How to Protect Your Elderly Parents from Phone Scams

The Scope of the Problem

Phone scams targeting seniors have reached epidemic proportions in recent years. Understanding the magnitude of this problem helps contextualize why protecting elderly parents from phone scams deserves serious attention and proactive measures.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans aged 60 and older reported losing more than $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023 alone. Phone scams represent a significant portion of these losses, with the average senior victim losing approximately $1,400 per incident. However, these numbers likely underrepresent the true scope, as many victims never report scams due to embarrassment or not realizing they've been targeted.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that seniors experienced the highest total losses compared to any other age group, despite not necessarily receiving the most complaints. This indicates that when scammers successfully target older adults, they extract substantially larger sums of money.

Beyond the financial impact, phone scams inflict psychological harm. Victims often experience shame, anxiety, depression, and a loss of confidence in their own judgment. Some seniors become withdrawn or isolated after being scammed, afraid to answer their phone or hesitant to make financial decisions independently.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated these trends, as scammers exploited fears about health, vaccines, and economic uncertainty. Even as pandemic-specific scams decrease, overall phone fraud targeting seniors continues to evolve with increasingly sophisticated tactics.

Why Seniors Are Targeted

Understanding why scammers specifically target older adults helps in developing effective protection strategies. Scammers aren't random in their approach; they deliberately seek out seniors for several calculated reasons.

Financial Resources

Many seniors have accumulated savings over decades of work, own their homes outright, and receive regular Social Security or pension income. They often have excellent credit and may have access to home equity lines of credit or other financial resources. Scammers know that successfully targeting a senior can yield substantial returns.

Generational Trust

Many older adults grew up in an era when phone calls were more trustworthy and businesses conducted legitimate transactions over the phone. This generational tendency toward politeness and trust makes them less likely to hang up abruptly or question a caller's credentials as aggressively as younger people might.

Social Isolation

Seniors who live alone or have limited social contact may be more willing to engage in lengthy phone conversations. Scammers exploit loneliness, sometimes building rapport over multiple calls before making their pitch. The social interaction itself can make seniors less suspicious of ulterior motives.

Cognitive Changes

Normal age-related cognitive changes can affect decision-making, risk assessment, and the ability to detect deception. Early-stage dementia or mild cognitive impairment may not be apparent to others but can significantly increase vulnerability to manipulation. Scammers are skilled at identifying and exploiting these vulnerabilities.

Technology Gap

Many seniors are less familiar with how caller ID spoofing works, how scammers obtain personal information, or how to verify a caller's legitimacy using online resources. This knowledge gap creates opportunities for tech-savvy scammers to appear more credible than they actually are.

Less Likely to Report

Seniors who fall victim to scams often don't report the crime due to embarrassment, fear of losing their independence, or not wanting to burden family members. Scammers know this reluctance to report reduces their risk of prosecution, making seniors more attractive targets than demographics more likely to involve authorities.

Common Phone Scams Targeting Seniors

Awareness is a powerful defense when protecting elderly parents from phone scams. Familiarizing yourself and your parents with these common schemes helps everyone recognize red flags when they appear.

IRS and Government Impersonation Scams

In this pervasive scam, callers claim to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, Medicare, or another government agency. They typically allege that your parent owes back taxes, their Social Security number has been suspended due to suspicious activity, or their Medicare benefits are in jeopardy.

The scammer creates urgency by threatening arrest, lawsuit, or benefit termination unless immediate payment is made. They often demand payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency—methods that are untraceable and irreversible.

Tech Support Scams

Scammers call claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or another tech company, warning that the senior's computer has been hacked, infected with viruses, or is sending out error messages. They offer to "fix" the problem remotely.

Once granted remote access to the computer, scammers may install actual malware, steal personal information and passwords, or show fake "scan results" to justify charging hundreds or thousands of dollars for unnecessary "repairs." Some scammers gain access to online banking this way and steal funds directly.

Medicare and Health Insurance Scams

These scams involve callers claiming to be from Medicare, offering "free" medical equipment, updated Medicare cards, or prescription benefits. The scammer's goal is to obtain Medicare numbers and personal information that can be used for identity theft or to bill Medicare fraudulently.

During Medicare open enrollment periods, these scams intensify. Scammers may pressure seniors to switch plans or provide bank information to process premium payments for plans the senior never actually signed up for.

Lottery and Prize Scams

The caller excitedly informs your parent they've won a lottery, sweepstakes, or prize—sometimes a substantial amount of money or a luxury vacation. To claim the winnings, they must first pay taxes, processing fees, or customs duties.

After the victim sends money, the scammer either disappears or creates additional "fees" that must be paid before the prize can be released. Of course, there is no prize. Legitimate lotteries never require upfront payment to claim winnings.

Charity Scams

Scammers exploit seniors' generosity by calling and claiming to represent charities, particularly after natural disasters or during holiday seasons. The organization may be completely fictitious, or the scammer might use a name similar to a legitimate charity.

They pressure for immediate donations, often requesting credit card information or asking that checks be made out to individuals rather than organizations. The money never reaches any charitable cause.

Grandparent Scam

A scammer calls pretending to be a grandchild in desperate trouble—arrested, in a car accident, stranded in a foreign country, or facing another emergency. They beg the grandparent not to tell anyone (especially the parents) and plead for money to be sent immediately via wire transfer or gift cards.

These scammers are skilled at emotional manipulation, often calling late at night when seniors are disoriented. Sometimes they research the family on social media to make the scam more convincing by using real names and details.

Warning Signs Your Parent May Be a Target

Detecting when your parent is being targeted by scammers allows you to intervene before significant financial or emotional damage occurs. Watch for these behavioral and circumstantial indicators:

Financial Red Flags

• Unexplained withdrawals or transfers from bank accounts
• New credit cards or loans they can't fully explain
• Gift cards purchased in unusual quantities or amounts
• Checks written to unfamiliar individuals or organizations
• Sudden difficulty paying bills they've always managed easily
• Wire transfers, especially to foreign countries
• Secretiveness about financial matters when they were previously open

Behavioral Changes

• Receiving an unusual volume of phone calls, particularly from unknown numbers
• Being secretive about phone conversations or taking calls in private
• Expressing sudden interest in topics like cryptocurrency, foreign lotteries, or investment opportunities
• Becoming defensive when asked about recent purchases or financial decisions
• Mentioning new "friends" or "advisors" they've only spoken to by phone
• Anxiety or stress around phone calls or financial matters
• Reluctance to discuss a recent "investment" or "opportunity"

Physical Evidence

• Stacks of gift cards or receipts for gift cards
• Promotional materials for prizes, lotteries, or investment schemes
• Correspondence from unfamiliar organizations or individuals
• Notes with wire transfer confirmation numbers
• Increased "junk mail" or unsolicited offers

Remember that one or two of these signs alone may not indicate a scam—seniors have every right to privacy and financial autonomy. However, clusters of these behaviors, especially combined with financial irregularities, warrant gentle investigation and support.

Call Blocking Solutions

Technology provides powerful tools for protecting elderly parents from phone scams by reducing the number of scam calls that reach them in the first place. Implementing multiple layers of call blocking creates a more secure communication environment.

Nomorobo

Nomorobo is one of the most effective robocall blocking services available. For landlines, it's completely free and works by answering calls simultaneously with your parent's phone. If Nomorobo's database identifies the caller as a robocaller, it hangs up after the first ring. Your parent's phone stops ringing, and the scammer is blocked.

For mobile phones, Nomorobo costs $1.99 per month and uses call screening technology to filter spam calls. The service continually updates its database with new scam numbers and has blocked billions of unwanted calls since its launch.

Setup: Visit nomorobo.com and follow the instructions for your parent's phone type. For landlines, you'll typically need to enable simultaneous ring through your phone carrier. The entire process takes about 10 minutes.

Carrier-Level Protection

Major phone carriers now offer built-in scam protection services, often at no additional cost:

• AT&T Call Protect: Free basic version labels suspected spam calls; premium version ($3.99/month) blocks spam calls automatically and provides reverse number lookup
• Verizon Call Filter: Free version alerts you to suspected spam; premium version ($2.99/month per line) includes spam filtering and caller ID
• T-Mobile Scam Shield: Free service that identifies and blocks scam likely calls, includes Scam ID, Scam Block, and Caller ID features

Contact your parent's phone carrier to activate these services. Many can be enabled through the carrier's mobile app or by calling customer service.

Physical Call Blocking Devices

For seniors who prefer simplicity or have landlines, physical call blocking devices attach to existing phones and provide effective protection:

• CPR Call Blocker: Blocks up to 2,000 numbers pre-programmed with known scammers, plus allows manual blocking of additional numbers. Simple one-button operation to block nuisance callers.
• Digitone Call Blocker: Blocks up to 1,500 numbers and features an allow-list mode where only approved numbers can ring through—ideal for seniors who only want to hear from family and known contacts.
• Panasonic Link2Cell Phones: Modern cordless phone systems with built-in call blocking that can block up to 250 numbers and screen unknown callers.

Smartphone Built-In Features

Both iPhone and Android devices include native call blocking features that should be activated:

iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers. This sends any call from a number not in contacts, recent calls, or Siri Suggestions directly to voicemail. Legitimate callers can leave messages while scammers rarely do.

Android: Open the Phone app > More (three dots) > Settings > Blocked numbers > enable "Unknown." This blocks calls from private or hidden numbers. Additionally, enable "Filter spam calls" to screen suspected spam calls.

Third-Party Apps

Several highly-rated apps provide additional protection for smartphones:

• Truecaller: Identifies unknown callers and blocks spam calls using a global database of numbers
• Hiya: Free call blocking and spam detection with automatic updates to its spam database
• RoboKiller: Uses Answer Bots to waste scammers' time while blocking them from your parent

When implementing call blocking solutions for your parent, ensure they understand how the technology works and know that legitimate calls might occasionally be filtered. Provide clear instructions for checking blocked call logs and voicemail regularly.

Setting Up the Do Not Call Registry

The National Do Not Call Registry is a free service managed by the Federal Trade Commission that allows consumers to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls. While it's not a complete solution for protecting elderly parents from phone scams, it remains a valuable first line of defense.

How to Register

Registration takes just a few minutes and can be completed in two ways:

• Online: Visit DoNotCall.gov and enter the phone numbers you want to register. You can register both landlines and mobile numbers. You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to verify the registration.
• By Phone: Call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register. This method is often easier for seniors as it doesn't require internet access.

Registration is permanent and never expires, though you can re-register at any time to ensure the number remains in the system. You can register up to three phone numbers at once online, or call separately from each phone you want to register.

What the Registry Does and Doesn't Do

It's important to set realistic expectations about the registry's limitations:

What it DOES:

• Stops legal telemarketers from calling registered numbers (they face fines up to $43,280 per violation)
• Reduces the overall volume of unwanted telemarketing calls
• Provides a basis for reporting violations to the FTC
• Covers both landlines and mobile phones

What it DOESN'T do:

• Stop illegal scammers who ignore the registry
• Block political calls, charitable solicitations, or survey calls
• Prevent calls from companies your parent has an existing business relationship with
• Stop calls your parent has given written permission to receive

Reporting Violations

If your parent receives telemarketing calls more than 31 days after registering, report them at DoNotCall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. When reporting, provide:

• The phone number that received the call
• The phone number that appears on caller ID (even if it's spoofed, report what appeared)
• The date and time of the call
• The company or organization that called
• What they were selling or the nature of the call

The FTC uses these reports to identify patterns and pursue enforcement actions against violators. While individual reports may not result in immediate action, collective data helps prosecute major offenders.

State-Level Do Not Call Lists

Many states maintain their own Do Not Call lists with additional protections. Check your parent's state attorney general website to see if a state registry exists and register there as well. Some states have stronger enforcement mechanisms or cover call types not addressed by the federal registry.

While registering with the Do Not Call Registry won't eliminate phone scams, it reduces overall call volume and provides legal recourse against legitimate companies that violate the rules. Think of it as one tool in a comprehensive protection strategy rather than a complete solution.

Teaching Your Parent to Recognize Scams

Empowering your parent with knowledge is one of the most effective methods for protecting elderly parents from phone scams. Education transforms them from passive targets into active defenders of their own security.

The Golden Rules

Teach your parent these fundamental principles that apply to virtually all phone scams:

The Verification Method

Practice this simple verification process with your parent until it becomes second nature:

1. If someone calls claiming to be from a company or government agency, don't provide any information
2. Tell them you'll call back to verify
3. Hang up completely—don't press numbers to be transferred or removed from lists
4. Look up the organization's official phone number independently (from a bill, official website, or phone book—not from caller ID or what the caller provided)
5. Call that number and ask to be connected to the department that supposedly called
6. If the original call was legitimate, the organization will have a record; if it was a scam, they'll have no knowledge of it

Red Flag Recognition

Help your parent recognize these common scam indicators:

• High-pressure tactics: "You must act now!" "This offer expires in 10 minutes!" "Don't hang up or you'll lose this opportunity!"
• Requests for secrecy: "Don't tell anyone about this" or "Don't discuss this with family members"
• Requests for unusual payment methods: Gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps like Venmo or Zelle to individuals
• Asking for remote computer access: "Let me log into your computer to fix this problem"
• Too good to be true: Promises of huge returns, free prizes, or solutions to serious problems with minimal effort
• Unsolicited offers: Legitimate companies rarely call to offer services you didn't request
• Requests for personal information: Social Security numbers, account passwords, Medicare numbers

Practicing Responses

Role-play common scam scenarios with your parent. Practice helps them develop automatic responses that kick in even when caught off-guard. Some useful scripts:

Building Confidence

Emphasize to your parent that it's always okay to:

• Hang up on suspicious calls without explanation
• Say "no" to unsolicited offers
• Take time to think about any financial decision
• Consult family members before making purchases or payments
• Not answer the phone if they don't recognize the number
• Ask questions and demand verification

Reassure them that legitimate callers will respect their caution, while scammers will become frustrated and move on. Being cautious isn't rude—it's smart self-protection in today's landscape of sophisticated phone scams.

What to Do If Your Parent Has Been Scammed

Despite best efforts at protecting elderly parents from phone scams, sometimes scammers succeed. If you discover your parent has been victimized, immediate action can minimize damage and prevent further losses.

Immediate Actions (First 24 Hours)

If Money Was Sent Via Wire Transfer

Contact the wire transfer company immediately (Western Union: 1-800-325-6000, MoneyGram: 1-800-926-9400). Request a recall or refund. While success isn't guaranteed, quick action sometimes allows the transfer to be stopped before pickup. Have the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) ready.

If Gift Cards Were Used

Contact the company that issued the gift cards immediately. Provide the card numbers and receipts if available. Some companies (Google Play, iTunes, Target, etc.) may be able to freeze unredeemed balances. Keep the physical cards and receipts as evidence.

If Credit/Debit Cards Were Used

Call the card issuer's fraud department immediately. Dispute the charges and explain they resulted from fraud. Federal law limits liability for unauthorized credit card charges to $50, and many issuers waive even that. Request new card numbers to prevent further unauthorized charges.

If Personal Information Was Shared

If your parent provided Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive information:

• Contact all financial institutions and place fraud alerts on accounts
• Change online banking passwords and security questions
• Place a fraud alert with credit bureaus (one call to any bureau alerts all three)
• Consider a credit freeze to prevent new accounts being opened
• Monitor credit reports closely for the next several months

If Computer Access Was Granted

If scammers gained remote access to your parent's computer:

• Disconnect the computer from the internet immediately
• Have a professional remove any remote access software the scammers installed
• Run comprehensive malware scans
• Change all passwords that were stored on that computer
• Consider professional data recovery if needed

Documentation

Create a comprehensive record of the scam:

• Dates and times of all communications with the scammer
• Phone numbers that appeared on caller ID
• Names the scammers used (even if fake)
• Exactly what was said in conversations (write down everything your parent remembers)
• Amounts sent and dates of all transactions
• Receipts, confirmation numbers, and any written communications
• Bank statements showing the fraudulent transactions

This documentation is essential for police reports, fraud claims, and potential recovery efforts.

Financial Protection

Depending on the severity of the scam and your parent's vulnerability, consider:

• Setting up account alerts for transactions above a certain amount
• Requiring joint signatures for large transactions
• Having statements sent to you as well as your parent
• Discussing whether additional financial oversight is appropriate (this is sensitive—see the section on managing parent finances)

Emotional Support

Beyond financial recovery, address the emotional impact:

• Remind your parent that intelligent, capable people fall victim to scams—it's not their fault
• Avoid "I told you so" responses or excessive criticism
• Watch for signs of depression, anxiety, or withdrawal
• Consider counseling if your parent shows persistent distress
• Focus conversations on preventing future incidents, not dwelling on the past

Many victims of elder fraud experience shame and self-blame. Your supportive, non-judgmental response helps them recover emotionally and increases the likelihood they'll report future scam attempts before sending money.

Reporting Scams

Reporting scams serves multiple purposes: it helps authorities identify and prosecute scammers, alerts other potential victims, and creates official documentation that may be needed for fraud claims or insurance purposes. Even if your parent didn't lose money, reporting attempted scams contributes to larger enforcement efforts.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC is the primary federal agency for reporting fraud. File a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC doesn't resolve individual complaints but uses reports to identify patterns and build cases against scammers.

When filing with the FTC, provide:

• Your parent's contact information
• How the scammer contacted them (phone, email, text)
• What the scammer claimed (government agency, tech support, prize, etc.)
• Whether money was lost and the amount
• How payment was sent (wire transfer, gift cards, credit card, etc.)

You'll receive a report number. Keep this for your records as it may be needed for other purposes.

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

For significant losses or sophisticated scams, file a complaint with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov. While phone scams fall under their purview, IC3 focuses on cases involving substantial losses or organized criminal operations.

The FBI also operates the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), which provides personalized support to seniors who've been victimized by fraud.

State Attorney General

Each state's Attorney General office has a consumer protection division that handles fraud complaints. Many states have special elder abuse units. Search for "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find the appropriate office.

State AGs can pursue enforcement actions under state consumer protection laws and sometimes achieve better results for individual victims than federal agencies.

Local Police

File a report with local law enforcement, especially if your parent lost a significant amount. While local police have limited resources for investigating phone scams, an official police report:

• Creates official documentation of the crime
• May be required for insurance claims or fraud dispute processes
• Can be referenced if the case is later connected to a larger investigation
• Helps police understand the prevalence of elder fraud in their community

Request a copy of the police report for your records.

Specialized Reporting

Depending on the type of scam, additional reporting may be appropriate:

• IRS Impersonation: Report to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484
• Social Security Scams: Report to the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or 1-800-269-0271
• Medicare Scams: Report to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468
• Robocalls: Report to the FTC and also file a complaint with the FCC at consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
• Investment Scams: Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission at sec.gov/tcr and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority at finra.org/investors

Adult Protective Services

If your parent appears to be particularly vulnerable to exploitation due to cognitive decline, isolation, or has been repeatedly victimized, contact your local Adult Protective Services (APS). Search for "[your county] adult protective services" to find contact information.

APS can investigate elder abuse and exploitation, connect your family with resources, and in severe cases, help establish protective arrangements.

Creating a Reporting Timeline

After discovering a scam, tackle reporting in this order:

1. Immediate financial institution contacts (first 24 hours)
2. Local police report (within 48 hours)
3. FTC report (within one week)
4. Specialized agency reports based on scam type (within one week)
5. State Attorney General (within two weeks)
6. FBI IC3 if losses are substantial (within two weeks)

Keep copies of all reports, confirmation numbers, and correspondence. This documentation becomes part of your parent's fraud protection file and may prove valuable if patterns emerge or if the case connects to larger investigations.

Having the Conversation Without Shaming

One of the most challenging aspects of protecting elderly parents from phone scams is initiating conversations about vulnerability and risk without damaging their dignity or independence. How you approach this topic significantly affects whether your parent accepts help or becomes defensive.

Timing and Setting

Choose a calm, private moment when your parent isn't rushed or stressed. Don't raise the topic immediately after they've received a scam call (when they may feel defensive) or during holiday gatherings (when they might feel embarrassed in front of others).

Frame the conversation as part of broader family security, not as an intervention targeting their competence. For example, you might mention that you've been learning about phone scams and want to discuss protective strategies that benefit the whole family.

Language That Empowers

The words you choose matter tremendously. Use language that emphasizes partnership and protection rather than vulnerability and incompetence.

Sharing Stories

Personal stories reduce shame by demonstrating that scam victimization happens to everyone. Share examples:

• News stories about educated, successful people who've been scammed
• Your own experiences with scam attempts (even if you didn't fall for them)
• Stories from friends or neighbors (with permission)
• Statistics showing the prevalence of elder fraud

These narratives normalize vulnerability and emphasize that scammers are professional criminals, not simply taking advantage of gullible people.

Using "We" Language

Frame protection as a family effort rather than something being done "to" or "for" your parent:

• "Let's set up call blocking on both our phones"
• "We should all register with the Do Not Call list"
• "Our family needs a strategy for verifying unexpected calls"
• "Can we go through this scam recognition guide together?"

If They've Already Been Scammed

Discovering a parent has been victimized requires exceptional sensitivity. They likely already feel embarrassed and may fear you'll think they're incompetent.

Respecting Autonomy

While protecting your parent is important, so is respecting their independence. Unless they have significant cognitive impairment, they have the right to make their own decisions, even ones you disagree with.

Offer information and tools, but allow them to decide which protections to implement. Forcing protection measures often backfires, creating resentment and causing parents to hide future financial decisions rather than consulting family.

If your parent refuses reasonable protective measures and shows signs of cognitive decline, consult with their physician and possibly an elder law attorney about appropriate next steps. This is covered in more detail in our guide on managing parent finances.

Creating an Open Door Policy

End the conversation by making it clear that your parent can always come to you:

"If you ever receive a call that seems suspicious, or even if you've already given information or money and are worried about it, please call me immediately. I will never be angry or judgmental. I just want to help protect you and fix anything that needs fixing. We're a team in this."

Regular Check-Ins

Make scam protection an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time lecture. Periodically ask:

• "Have you been getting many scam calls lately?"
• "Is the call blocking working well?"
• "Did you hear about [recent scam in the news]? That's a new one to watch for."

These casual check-ins normalize the topic and keep it present in your parent's mind without making them feel monitored or infantilized. The goal is creating a supportive environment where your parent views you as a resource and partner in protection rather than a critic waiting to say "I told you so."

Frequently Asked Questions