April Focuses on Digital Safety and Seniors

Forewarned is forearmed. This also applies to digital safety. That is why the municipality of Voorschoten is joining the national “Seniors and Safety” campaign in April. Together with the police and special enforcement officers, we are paying extra attention to digital safety for seniors. Unfortunately, it has become clear that older adults are often targeted by digital scammers.

Residents of Voorschoten are also increasingly falling victim to scams such as phishing, spoofing, “I need help” scams, debit card fraud, and chat scams. These are complex English terms that refer to the sending of fake text messages or emails, and scammers who, for example, pose as bank employees over the phone or at the front door. In 2022, 110 cases of digital fraud were reported in Voorschoten.

Working Together

Mayor Nadine Stemerdink: “Unfortunately, criminals are getting smarter all the time. They’re constantly coming up with new ways to scam people. Some show up at the door and introduce themselves as a friendly city official. Others pose as a grandchild on WhatsApp and ask for money. It’s especially important that our older residents are well aware of this. Scammers often view them as particularly vulnerable and therefore as easy targets. Shame often plays a role for those affected as well. By sharing information, we can tackle this problem together.”

Community Meetings

The municipality is therefore organizing two meetings for seniors on Wednesday, April 12, in collaboration with the police and special enforcement officers. The morning meeting will be held at the Alettahof, Aletta Jacobsplantsoen 97, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In the afternoon, there will be a meeting at the Vereniging Ouderenbelang Voorschoten (VOV), in the VOV clubhouse at Prof. Einsteinlaan 3, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. All residents aged 65 and older are welcome to attend. During these sessions, police officers will offer tips on how to prevent scams, and there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions. No registration is required to attend either session. But please note: space is limited.

Present in the market

Municipal employees, along with the special enforcement officers, will also be at the Friday market on April 14. There, they will talk with residents about the various methods used by online scammers. Residents can pick up informational materials, ask questions, and share their experiences.

Tips and Insights

Over the coming weeks, the municipality will be sharing tips on various forms of cybercrime on social media. In addition, residents can visit the special enforcement officers’ walk-in consultation hours every week with any questions they may have. These consultation hours are held every Wednesday afternoon at Leidseweg 29, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Residents who would like to learn more about seniors and safety can also visit www.maakhetzeniettemakkelijk.nl/senioren-en-veiligheid or.