Phone-scam lesson for elders, Sylhet

About this task

Many Sylheti families have members abroad; scams posing as relatives or about remittances often target elders. A homely gathering with tea for the area’s elders: the five common mobile scams and five simple rules (never tell anyone your PIN or OTP, never trust a “you have won a prize” call), then hands-on on each one’s own phone.

Why it matters

Mobile banking scammers aim first at older people, who easily trust an “office” calling. Once they know the trick, they warn the rest of the family too.

What changes after

At least fifteen elders came and could say the five rules; 999 saved in every phone.

Who can join

Anyone patient who knows smartphones and mobile banking well.

What it costs

Getting ready, step by step

• 7 days before

  Book a room: ground floor, chairs, a toilet close by.

  List the elders and invite each in person through their family.

• 3 days before

  Print posters and cards; big letters, few words.

  Prepare two sample fake messages and a short role-play of a fake call.

  Check each mobile-money service's real helpline from its official source and print it on the card.

• The day before

  Remind each family; ask elders to bring a charged phone.

  Order tea and snacks.

• The day

  Teach the five rules through stories and role-play; each says them aloud.

  On their own phones: save 999, block a number.

• The week after

  Phone a couple of elders: any suspicious call, and what happened?

  Ask them to share the card photo with the young ones in the family.

Who does what

• Main speaker (1): Tells the five rules through stories; answers questions. — ____________
• Role-play and hands-on helper (1): Plays the fake caller; sits beside each person with their phone. — ____________
• Hospitality, attendance and photos (1): Tea, names, photos with consent. — ____________

The day, hour by hour

• 15:30Set up the room, posters on the wall, chairs in front.
• 16:00Welcome, tea, names.
• 16:15Role-play fake call: “Your account will close, tell me the code.” Then ask: what was wrong?
• 16:30Five rules: never share PIN or OTP; hang up on “your account will close”; call back yourself before sending money; no unknown links; even if it sounds like a grandchild, call them yourself first.
• 17:00Hands on: save 999, block a number, spot a fake message, on each phone.
• 17:30Each says the five rules aloud; cards handed out.
• 17:45If cheated: the service helpline at once, then a GD at the police station, 999 in an emergency.
• 18:00Thanks, group photo (with consent), tidy up.

What can go wrong, and what to do

• Someone offers to show their PIN or balance → Politely refuse; that is the first lesson. Demo only on a sample screen.
• Someone says they have already been cheated → No shaming; sit with them apart; help them call the helpline to block the account and file a GD.
• Too many words; elders lose track → Drop the jargon; say “code”, “secret number”; repeat each point.

Useful numbers

• 999National emergency: police, fire, ambulance (free)
• 333Government information, services and complaints

Team notes