How to Spot Telephone Scams Targeting Seniors: Prevention Initiative by Nuevo Banco del Chaco

Argentina's Nuevo Banco del Chaco launched an awareness campaign targeting seniors to prevent telephone scams. A cybersecurity expert emphasized that needing to remove the phone from your ear during a call is a red flag for fraud, while also noting the psychological impact on victims.

The Growing Threat of Telephone Scams

Argentina's Nuevo Banco del Chaco has launched an awareness campaign targeting seniors to combat telephone fraud. A cybersecurity expert named Julio López led sessions combining cognitive stimulation exercises with practical fraud detection techniques.

How the Scam Works

Telephone scammers typically try to get victims to:

Read verification codes aloud
Install applications
Access their bank accounts

López introduced a simple "golden rule" for identifying fraud: If you need to remove the phone from your ear during a call from someone you don't know—whether to read a code, install an app, or access your bank—what comes next is fraud.

Psychological Impact on Victims

Telephone fraud causes deeper psychological harm than traditional theft or robbery. Victims often experience what experts call the "digital postponement effect," losing confidence in managing their own devices and becoming overly dependent on others. This secondary harm is as significant as the financial loss itself.

Who Commits These Crimes

While some fraud networks operate from prisons, telephone fraud is a widespread, highly profitable global crime. Many operators work freely, and modern fast-transfer systems make these crimes easier to execute.

Prevention Tips

To protect yourself:

Be suspicious of unexpected calls: Treat calls from unknown numbers with caution
Never share authentication codes or personal information: Legitimate banks never request sensitive information by phone
Consult trusted contacts: If something feels wrong, speak with family members or trusted advisors immediately
Share information with peers: Discuss common scam tactics with friends and family

Broader Awareness Efforts

All workshop materials and videos will be distributed through social media and government organizations like PAMI and ANSES to reach seniors throughout the province and improve financial literacy and digital security awareness.