In 2023, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud — and by their own estimates, that number likely topped $4.8 billion when accounting for unreported cases. In 2024, the figure climbed again. Elder fraud is not a small problem affecting a handful of unlucky people. It is a massive, organized industry that specifically targets older adults because they tend to have savings, they answer the phone, and they were raised in an era when a phone call from someone claiming to be from the government meant something.
This guide is for adult children who want to protect their parents. We talked to fraud investigators, elder law attorneys, and families who have been through it. Some of what we found is infuriating. But understanding how these scams work is the single best way to stop them. If you have a question we didn’t cover, email us at [email protected].
Why Seniors Are Targeted
Before we get into specific scams, it helps to understand why older adults are disproportionately affected:
- Savings and assets. Seniors are more likely to have retirement accounts, home equity, and accumulated savings — making them higher-value targets than younger adults.
- They answer the phone. Adults over 65 answer calls from unknown numbers at far higher rates than younger generations. Scammers know this.
- Isolation. Seniors who live alone or have limited social contact are more vulnerable because they have fewer people around to raise red flags.
- Cognitive changes. Age-related cognitive decline — even mild changes that don’t rise to dementia — can affect judgment, impulse control, and the ability to detect deception.
- Trust and politeness. Many older adults were raised to be polite to strangers and to trust authority figures. Scammers exploit this.
- Unfamiliarity with technology. Phishing emails, fake websites, and spoofed phone numbers are harder to detect for people who didn’t grow up with technology.
None of these factors are flaws. They’re simply realities that scammers have learned to exploit systematically.
The Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors
1. Medicare and Health Insurance Fraud
Scammers call posing as Medicare representatives, asking for your Medicare number to “update your records” or “send you a new card.” They use the number to bill Medicare for services never provided or to steal your identity. Medicare will never call you unsolicited and ask for your number.
2. Social Security Impersonation
A caller claims your Social Security number has been “suspended” or “compromised” and threatens arrest unless you verify your identity or pay a fine — often through gift cards or wire transfers. The Social Security Administration does not suspend numbers, does not threaten arrest over the phone, and will never ask for gift card payments.
3. The Grandparent Scam
Someone calls pretending to be a grandchild in an emergency — a car accident, a jail situation, a medical crisis — and begs for money immediately. They often say “please don’t tell Mom and Dad.” The caller may have gleaned the grandchild’s name from social media. In newer versions, scammers use AI-generated voice cloning to sound exactly like the real grandchild.
4. Romance Scams
Through dating websites, social media, or even church groups, a scammer builds a relationship with a lonely senior over weeks or months. Once trust is established, the emergencies start: a hospitalization overseas, a business deal gone wrong, travel costs to finally meet in person. The average romance scam victim over 60 loses more than $9,000, and some lose hundreds of thousands.
5. Tech Support Scams
A pop-up appears on a computer screen warning of a virus, or a caller claims to be from Microsoft or Apple. They request remote access to “fix” the problem, then install malware, steal passwords, or charge hundreds of dollars for fake services. Legitimate tech companies do not make unsolicited calls or display pop-up warnings with phone numbers.
6. IRS Impersonation
A caller says you owe back taxes and face immediate arrest if you don’t pay by wire transfer or gift card. The IRS initiates contact through the mail — not by phone — and never demands immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
7. Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams
“Congratulations, you’ve won!” — but first, you need to pay taxes, processing fees, or shipping costs to claim your prize. The prize does not exist. Legitimate lotteries and sweepstakes never require upfront payment. If you didn’t enter a contest, you didn’t win one.
8. Home Repair Scams
A contractor shows up unsolicited — sometimes right after a storm — offering to fix your roof, driveway, or gutters at a “special price” if you pay in cash today. They collect money and either disappear or do shoddy work. Some use the access to case the house for a later burglary.
9. Investment Fraud
Scammers pitch “guaranteed” investments with “no risk” — often cryptocurrency, precious metals, or real estate deals. They may impersonate licensed financial advisors or create convincing fake websites. Seniors lost over $1.2 billion to investment fraud in 2023 alone, making it the highest-loss category tracked by the FBI.
10. Identity Theft
Using stolen personal information (often purchased on the dark web from prior data breaches), criminals open credit cards, take out loans, or file tax returns in a senior’s name. Many victims don’t discover the theft for months, by which point the damage is extensive.
Warning Signs a Parent Is Being Scammed
Watch for these behavioral and financial red flags:
- Unusual secrecy about finances. They deflect questions about money or become defensive when asked.
- Unexplained withdrawals or transfers. Large or frequent cash withdrawals, wire transfers, or gift card purchases.
- Piles of sweepstakes mail or lottery notifications. Once a senior responds to one scam, their name lands on “sucker lists” that get sold to other scammers.
- New “friends” you’ve never met. Particularly online relationships that seem intense but vague.
- Anxiety about the phone or computer. Either excessive screen time or sudden avoidance of devices.
- Packages of gift cards. If you find stacks of iTunes, Google Play, or Amazon gift cards, that is a major red flag — gift cards are the preferred payment method for many phone scams.
- Confusion about accounts or bills. Missing statements, unfamiliar charges, or bills for services they didn’t sign up for.
- Changed financial habits. A parent who was always careful with money suddenly spending erratically or not paying bills.
If you notice any of these signs, approach the conversation with care. Most scam victims feel deep shame, and confrontation can make them double down or hide the problem. Lead with concern, not accusation.
Prevention Checklist
You cannot eliminate risk entirely, but these steps dramatically reduce it:
Phone Protection
- Enable robocall blocking through your carrier (all major carriers offer this free)
- Set the phone to silence unknown callers (built into both iPhone and Android)
- Register on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov (won’t stop scammers, but reduces legitimate telemarketing volume)
- Establish a family code word — a password your parent can ask for if someone claims to be a family member in trouble
Financial Protection
- Set up account alerts so you receive text or email notifications for transactions over a certain amount
- Place a credit freeze with all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) — it’s free and prevents new accounts from being opened
- Add a trusted contact to brokerage and bank accounts — someone the institution can reach if they detect suspicious activity
- Switch to direct deposit for Social Security and pension checks to eliminate mail theft
- Review bank and credit card statements monthly together
Digital Protection
- Install a password manager — this prevents password reuse, the most common cause of account compromise
- Enable two-factor authentication on email, banking, and social media accounts
- Set up automatic software updates so security patches install without user intervention
- Install an ad blocker on their web browser to reduce exposure to malicious pop-ups
- Bookmark important sites (bank, Medicare, Social Security) so they don’t need to search and risk clicking fake links
Social Protection
- Stay connected. Regular calls and visits are the best defense against isolation, which makes scams more effective.
- Talk about scams openly and without judgment. Share stories about scam attempts you’ve received yourself to normalize the conversation.
- Introduce the concept of a “pause.” If anyone asks for money or personal information, the rule is: hang up, wait 10 minutes, and call a family member before doing anything.
What to Do If It Happens
If your parent has been scammed, act fast. The first 24 to 48 hours are critical for recovering funds.
Immediate Steps
- Contact the bank or credit card company. Request a freeze on the affected accounts and dispute unauthorized transactions. Many banks can reverse wire transfers if caught within 24 hours.
- File a police report. Even if police can’t recover the money, a report creates documentation you’ll need for disputes and insurance claims.
- Place a fraud alert or credit freeze. Contact one of the three credit bureaus (they’re required to notify the other two): Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian (1-888-397-3742), TransUnion (1-800-680-7289).
- Change all passwords on email, banking, and any account that may have been accessed.
Reporting
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov
- Medicare fraud: 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477)
- Social Security fraud: oig.ssa.gov or 1-800-269-0271
- State Attorney General: Find yours at naag.org
- Adult Protective Services: Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116
- AARP Fraud Helpline: 1-877-908-3360
Supporting Your Parent Emotionally
Scam victims often experience shame, embarrassment, and a loss of confidence in their own judgment. Some become depressed or withdraw socially. Remind your parent that intelligent, capable people get scammed every day — that’s what makes it a billion-dollar industry. The criminals are professionals. Getting scammed says nothing about a person’s intelligence or character.
A Note About AI and Deepfakes
Scams are getting more sophisticated. AI-generated voice cloning can now replicate a person’s voice from just a few seconds of audio pulled from a social media video. Deepfake video calls are emerging. Scam emails are becoming harder to distinguish from legitimate ones because AI generates flawless, personalized text.
The family code word strategy is more important than ever. Agree on a word or phrase that your family uses to verify identity during any urgent financial request — whether it comes by phone, text, or video call. If the caller can’t produce the code word, hang up and call the real person directly using a number you already have saved.
Resources Worth Bookmarking
- AARP Fraud Watch Network: aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork
- FBI Elder Fraud page: fbi.gov/elderfraud
- FTC Scam Alerts: consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
- Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116
For more on keeping older adults safe online, see our internet safety guide. For statistics on elder abuse and financial exploitation, see our elder abuse statistics page. And if you’re looking at phones with robocall blocking features, our best cell phones for seniors guide covers that in detail.
Something we missed? A scam you’ve encountered that wasn’t listed? Reach out at [email protected] — we update this page regularly and your input helps other families.