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Scams That Target Older Adults and How to Stop Them
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Older adults lose an estimated $3.4 billion to fraud every year in the US. These scams are sophisticated, convincing, and growing. Here is what to watch for.
“Grandma, it’s me. I’m in trouble. Please don’t tell Mom.”
A scammer calls pretending to be a grandchild in crisis, arrested, in a car accident, or stranded abroad. They ask for money immediately and tell you to keep it secret from other family members.
Criminals can now use artificial intelligence to clone a real person’s voice using just a few seconds of audio found on social media or voicemails. The voice on the phone may sound exactly like your grandchild. It is not them.
Hang up and call back using a number you already have saved, not one given to you during the call.
Set a family code word (see below). Ask the caller for it. A real grandchild will know it.
Call another family member to verify the story before doing anything.
Never wire money, buy gift cards, or send cryptocurrency based on a phone call, no matter how real the voice sounds.
“This is the IRS. You owe back taxes. Pay now or face arrest.”
A caller claims to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or local police. They say you owe money, your benefits are being suspended, or there is a warrant for your arrest. They create panic so you act fast without thinking.
They demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. They ask you to keep the call secret. They threaten arrest or legal action if you hang up.
The IRS, Social Security Administration, and Medicare will never call you demanding immediate payment. They will never ask for gift cards. They always contact you first by mail. Real government agencies will not threaten arrest over the phone.
Hang up. You will not be arrested for hanging up on a scammer.
If concerned, call the agency directly using the number on their official website, not a number the caller gave you.
Never pay a government bill with a gift card. No government agency accepts gift cards as payment.
Tell a family member or trusted friend before paying anything.
“You’ve won $50,000. Just pay the release fee to claim your prize.”
Two versions, same trap. In prize scams, you receive a call, letter, or email saying you won a lottery or sweepstakes but must pay a fee, tax, or processing charge to collect. In romance scams, a stranger builds a relationship online over weeks or months, then invents a crisis and asks for money.
Romance scam victims often feel embarrassed, but these scams are carefully designed to build real emotional trust. The shame belongs to the criminal, not the victim.
Real prizes never require an upfront payment. If you must pay to claim a prize, it is a scam.
Before sending money to someone you have not met in person, talk to a family member or friend first.
Do a reverse image search of their profile photo. Scammers often use stolen photos.
If someone online quickly professes love but always has a reason they cannot video chat or meet in person, be very cautious.
A family code word is your most powerful defense against voice cloning and impersonation scams. Choose one secret word that only your family knows. If someone claims to be a family member and cannot say the word, it is not them.
Pick something simple and memorable, an unexpected word, a childhood nickname, or a favorite place. Nothing obvious.
Share it only with immediate family members, in person or through a method you trust.
Agree as a family that anyone asking for emergency help must say the code word. No exceptions, no matter how urgent they sound.
Update the word once a year or immediately if you think it may have been shared or compromised.
It is always okay to hang up. Real agencies and real family members will not be offended. Scammers count on your politeness.
No government, no business, and no court ever accepts gift cards as payment.
Before sending money or giving out any information, call a trusted family member, even if you were told to keep it secret. Especially then.
Any caller who says you must act right now is trying to stop you from thinking clearly. Slow down.
It is always okay to hang up. Real agencies and real family members will not be offended. Scammers count on your politeness.
No government, no business, and no court ever accepts gift cards as payment.
Before sending money or giving out any information, call a trusted family member, even if you were told to keep it secret. Especially then.
Any caller who says you must act right now is trying to stop you from thinking clearly. Slow down.
