Helping older adults stay a step ahead of scams
The protection that works isn't one big conversation — it's a handful of small habits shared between you and the person you're looking out for.
Older adults are among the most targeted groups for online scams — and it's no accident. A lifetime of work usually means retirement savings, home equity, and established credit, and fraudsters single out seniors precisely because of that accumulated wealth. The schemes keep getting more convincing too, often using real names, spoofed phone numbers, and polished messages that no longer give themselves away with obvious typos. This guide covers both sides: what family members can do to help, and what the older adult can do on their own.
Why older adults are targeted
Fraudsters are deliberate in who they target. Older adults are attractive because they're more likely to have significant assets — paid-off homes, retirement accounts, life savings — and they grew up in an era when institutions were more trustworthy and unsolicited calls were normal. That combination of wealth and baseline trust is exactly what scammers exploit.
Modern scams are also genuinely harder to detect. AI-generated voices can clone a family member's voice in seconds. Caller ID can be spoofed to show a real bank's number. Emails look identical to the real thing. The weakness isn't gullibility — it's that the attacks have gotten better. That's why the response has to be habit-based, not a one-time conversation.
What you can do to help
Keep the conversation open
Talk about money and online activity before there's a problem, not after. Ask what kinds of calls, texts, and emails they've been getting, and make it normal to run anything suspicious past you first. The goal is a standing "check with me" habit — not a one-time warning.
Lock down accounts together
Help turn on two-step verification and transaction alerts on their bank, email, and social accounts, and review privacy settings so strangers can't see personal details. Most fraud starts with information that was already public, or a login that wasn't protected.
Know the warning signs
Watch for sudden changes: a new online "friend" or romance, secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals or gift-card purchases, or confusion about transactions they don't remember making. Pressure to keep something secret is itself a red flag.
Report it quickly
If you suspect exploitation, move fast — contact their bank, local Adult Protective Services, and law enforcement. File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC. Reporting helps even after the money's gone: it feeds investigations and can sometimes stop a transfer in time.
What you can do on your own
Check your accounts regularly
Look over your bank and card statements often, so anything unfamiliar gets caught early. If keeping track is getting harder, consider adding a trusted person who can help you keep an eye on things.
Set up a trusted contact and organize your documents
Name a trusted contact with your bank, and keep your important financial and legal documents in one organized place. It's a simple extra layer of protection if anything ever looks off.
Never share codes, passwords, or account numbers on the spot
No real bank, government agency, or company will call, text, or email and ask for your password, account number, or a one-time verification code. If you didn't start the conversation, don't share anything — hang up and call the company back using a number you already trust.
Don't grant remote access or click unknown links
Be wary of anyone who asks to connect to your computer or phone, or who pushes you to click a link or install something — especially if they contacted you first. Remote access is how scammers move money and steal information. When in doubt, stop and ask someone you trust before doing anything.
Warning signs to watch for
- →Sudden new "friend" or romantic interest online who quickly gets very close
- →Secrecy about money, phone calls, or new relationships
- →Unusual withdrawals, gift-card purchases, or wire transfers
- →Confusion about recent transactions or accounts they don't remember opening
- →Pressure from anyone to act fast, keep something secret, or not tell family
- →Calls or messages claiming to be from the government, IRS, or Social Security demanding immediate payment
- →A "grandchild in trouble" calling from an unfamiliar number needing urgent money
Where to get help — and report it
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Report online fraud and scams at any dollar amount.
Federal Trade Commission
Report a scam and get step-by-step recovery help.
Eldercare Locator
Connects you to local Adult Protective Services and support.
AARP Fraud Watch Network
Scam alerts and a helpline staffed by trained volunteers.
Practice beats a one-time warning.
PhishTested turns scam awareness into a habit the whole household can build — from the teen getting their first phone to the parent who's a target for fraud, all from one account. Short, scenario-based quizzes that strengthen digital judgment over time.