Younger generation should safeguard parents

A few weeks ago, while I was busily sifting through work-related information while riding the subway, I received a weblink from my mom about adjusting diets and living habits to maintain health.

Similar content about health and nursing care can often be seen in many families' WeChat groups because lots of parents don't want to be a burden on their children. They believe that the strongest support they can offer their kids is to not get sick.

In China, the cost of treating major illnesses, including cancers and rare diseases, is still high for most families, especially in the rural areas.

So, the older generation pays great attention to information about health and nursing services, trying to maintain a good physical condition for longer by themselves to reduce the cost for younger family members, who face big pressures in their work and lives.

Given this situation, some older people are easily lured or hooked to pay money when swindlers ask them to buy counterfeit healthcare products or invest in fake pension-related projects.

Although some seniors initially hesitate to become involved in such purchases or investments, they eventually succumb, either because they are not good at using the internet to distinguish scams from genuine opportunities or because their children fail to advise them about such scams.

Shang Dengyu, a judge at Beijing Chaoyang District People's Court, welcomed the recent intensified measures against fraud, but said he is concerned about whether seniors are fully digesting anti-fraud advice.

"In this fast-developing internet era, tricks are diverse and they change rapidly. Sometimes, it's difficult for young people to recognize fraud, let alone older people," he said. "Besides, even after younger people learn how to prevent fraud, we're not sure if they share this knowledge with their parents."

I take myself as an example. Sometimes, when my mom sends me messages that I suspect may be related to fraud, I don't alert her in a timely manner, and sometimes I don't even open the links she sends because I am busy with my work.

On the one hand, many seniors, especially those whose children have left home for work or those who live alone, are lonely, so they are willing to talk with scammers.

On the other hand, some people are so busy with their own lives that they have little time to spare for their parents and have no idea what they are doing.

If we can help our parents learn to use the internet to verify or disprove information they have been given, and frequently remind them to hang up on calls from strangers, the chances that they will fall for fraudulent activity may be reduced, and the more they will feel our concern.

So, let's take more time to talk with our parents, if possible via video calls or by visiting them at home, to learn what they are doing and to express our love.