It’s a disheartening reality—many older adults are regularly targeted by scammers, regardless of their living situation. If your senior parent has fallen victim to a scam, it can feel overwhelming and upsetting for both of you.
However, acting quickly can help mitigate the damage. If your senior parent is being scammed, report the scam to the proper authorities, secure your loved one’s financial accounts, and educate them on scams to help prevent future loss.
A calm, compassionate approach will support your parent and restore their peace of mind. When these conversations arise, contact senior support systems for help navigating them.
How Do I Know If My Parent Is Being Scammed?
Elder fraud is a growing and costly problem. Sometimes, the signs of a scam are subtle, but learning to look for these red flags can make all the difference.
- Unexplained financial transactions
- Sudden, large withdrawals, unusual purchases, or multiple small transactions from their accounts
- Anxiety around money
- Your parent seems nervous, secretive, or defensive when discussing their finances
- Unexpected packages or subscriptions
- Items arrive that they don’t remember ordering or recurring charges for services they didn’t intentionally sign up for
- Strange communications
- They share stories about calls, emails, or letters from unknown individuals asking for money or personal information
- Confusion about missing funds
- They might be unable to explain why money is missing from their accounts
- Fear or guilt
- They express reluctance to talk about specific interactions because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or scared
If you notice these signs, trust your instincts. Acting quickly and offering them gentle support during a vulnerable time is essential. Understand that your parent may already feel vulnerable or ashamed, and therefore, avoid blame and any language that assigns fault.
4 Steps To Take If Your Older Parent Is Scammed
If your parents have been scammed, the situation can feel urgent. Here’s how to handle it effectively and protect them from further harm.
1. Record All Relevant Information
Start by gathering every detail of the scam. Work with your parent to piece together a complete picture of the situation, including:
- The dates & times of phone calls, emails, or messages
- Names or aliases used by the scammer
- What was promised, requested, or threatened
- Copies of any documents, emails, or texts exchanged
Collecting all this information will be essential for reporting the fraud and resolving financial issues later.
2. Report the Scam
Taking quick action is key. Reporting the scam helps authorities track scammers and might prevent them from targeting others. Here’s who you can contact:
- Use the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s online fraud reporting site (ReportFraud.ftc.gov)
- File a report with your local law enforcement or police department so the fraud the incident is officially documented
- Notify your loved one’s bank or credit card company about the scam to freeze or secure affected accounts.
- File a complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office, as many states have consumer protection divisions for fraud cases
Every report matters. While scammers can sometimes be difficult to apprehend, transparency strengthens the safety net for everyone.
3. Secure Financial Accounts
Scammers often use fraud to gain unauthorized access to personal finances. After reporting the scam, protect your parent’s accounts by taking these steps:
- Change all passwords, especially all online banking & email passwords, with strong, unique combinations
- Enable account alerts & request ATM transactions or spending notifications to flag any unusual activity in real time
- Review bank statements regularly for unauthorized or unexpected charges
- Request a credit freeze by contacting credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, & TransUnion) to freeze their credit & prevent scammers from opening accounts in their name
4. Educate & Prevent Future Scams
Once you resolve your parent’s immediate concerns, provide them with tools and awareness to protect themselves moving forward. Discuss the following prevention tips with empathy and encouragement:
Never Share Private Information
Remind them not to give out Social Security numbers, banking details, or passwords to unknown callers or emails.
Verify First
Encourage them to independently verify anyone who tries to solicit money or services, even if they appear official.
The “grandparent scam” targets older adults by having scammers impersonate their distressed grandchild, claiming to need urgent help or money, often begging the grandparent not to tell anyone. Encourage loved ones to always verify the story with family before sending any funds.
Limit the Flow of Information
Educate seniors to share only essential information online or on social media to prevent scammers from using personal details against them. Make it clear that any shared information, whether it’s family news or home addresses, can be accessible to strangers.
Screen Calls
Teach your parent or loved one about call-blocking apps and encourage them to avoid unknown or suspicious phone numbers.
Creating a sense of partnership and open communication will help your parent feel empowered rather than criticized.
Most Common Scams Targeting Older Adults
Scammers often target older adults because they may be unfamiliar with emerging technologies and tend to trust official-looking messages. Here are the most common scams that target seniors today:
- Imposter scams, such as crooks pretending to be government officials, doctors, or even family members & asking for money urgently
- Phishing emails or texts, where fake emails or messages claim a problem with their bank or Netflix account, prompting them to click on a harmful link
- Telemarketing scams where fraudsters sell fake prizes, vacations, or miracle treatments over the phone
- Social security fraud, where scammers convince seniors that their benefits are in jeopardy unless they take immediate action (e.g., “payment”)
- Tech support scams, where fraudsters request remote access to fix a “virus” while actually stealing information stored on users’ devices
By understanding these tricks, you can help your parent recognize and avoid them in the future.
Ways to Prevent Scams On Seniors
Prevention is the best defence against scams. Here are proactive ways to reduce the risk for your parent and give them peace of mind.
- Secure their devices by installing antivirus software & enabling automatic updates for apps & operating systems
- Monitor their online activity (with permission) to help safeguard their email accounts & guide them on social media best practices (e.g., avoiding unknown friend requests)
- Encourage open communication by maintaining an ongoing dialogue about their interactions & finances so you can act quickly if something seems amiss
- Use scam-busting tools like the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel Network, which flags trending scams & shares valuable resources
Protecting Your Loved Ones From Scams
At Peregrine Senior Living at Crossgate, we know that scams can happen to anyone. However, with ongoing education and open communication, you can help your parents feel confident and protected in today’s increasingly complex world.
Contact us today to see how our senior living community can support your loved one’s peace of mind.
