Protecting Older Adults from Online Fraud
People over 60 lose billions of dollars to fraud every year, and their average losses are often much larger than younger people’s. Scammers target older adults because they may have savings, be more trusting or isolated, and be less familiar with new technology. Family, friends and coworkers can make a big difference.
- Older adults
- Families
- Caregivers
Photo: adult child helping an older parent set up spam call blocking on a phone
Scams that target older adults
- Grandparent and family emergency scams, sometimes using AI-cloned voices. See Phone Scams.
- Tech support scams. See Tech Support Scams.
- Government impersonation: Social Security, Medicare, IRS. See Impersonation Scams.
- Romance and investment scams. See Romance Scams.
- Lottery and sweepstakes: “You won, just pay the taxes and fees.”
- Home repair and contractor fraud: door-to-door offers, big deposits and unfinished work. See Hiring Contractors.
Warning signs a loved one is being scammed
- Secretive phone calls, or a new online “friend” or romance
- Unusual withdrawals, wire transfers, gift card purchases or visits to crypto ATMs
- Packages of gift cards or cash being mailed
- Sudden worry about money, or unpaid bills despite savings
- New “financial advisors” or helpers you’ve never met
- Remote access software on their computer they can’t explain
Talking about it
Shame keeps many victims quiet. Talk about scams as something that happens to everyone (because it does), share news stories, and ask open questions rather than lecturing. Agree on a family rule: no one sends money in a hurry without checking with someone else first.
Practical safeguards
- Turn on call blocking and spam filters on phones.
- Set up account alerts for large withdrawals or transfers.
- Add a trusted contact to bank and investment accounts.
- Freeze credit. See Freezing Your Credit.
- Agree on a family code word for emergencies.
- Help keep devices updated and use a password manager.
Getting help
- National Elder Fraud Hotline (Department of Justice): 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311)
- Report online fraud at ic3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Adult Protective Services in your area can help when an older adult is being exploited.
- Contact the bank immediately; quick action sometimes stops a transfer.
Standards & references
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