How to Protect Elderly Family Members from Scams

TLDR

Seniors lose more money per scam incident than any other age group. ScamVerify™ FTC data shows that scams targeting seniors use human operators far more often than other scam types - lottery scams are only 36% robocall (vs 89% for debt scams), and 64% use live agents who are more persuasive. This guide covers practical steps families can take to set up protection across all channels.

Why Seniors Are Targeted Differently

Not all scams operate the same way. Our FTC data reveals a critical pattern:

Scams targeting seniors (lottery, tech support, grandparent) have the lowest robocall rates. This means they rely on live human agents who can build rapport, create urgency, and respond to resistance. A recorded robocall is easy to hang up on. A sympathetic-sounding person claiming to be your grandchild is not.

Phone Protection Setup

Step 1: Enable Call Screening

iPhone: Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers > ON Android: Phone app > Settings > Spam and Call Screen > Filter spam calls > ON

Walk your family member through this setting. Explain that legitimate callers will leave voicemails.

Step 2: Set Up the Contact List

Add all important numbers to their contacts:

• Doctor's office
• Pharmacy
• Bank
• Insurance company
• Family members
• Trusted neighbors

With call screening enabled, these contacts will always ring through.

Step 3: Create a Family Code Word

For grandparent scam protection, establish a secret code word that only the family knows. If someone calls claiming to be a grandchild in trouble, the response is: "What is our family code word?" No legitimate family member will fail this test.

Text Message Protection

1. Enable spam text filtering (iPhone: Settings > Messages > Filter Unknown Senders)
2. Teach the link rule: "Never tap a link in a text message. If it is real, you can find it yourself."
3. Set up the 7726 habit: Show them how to forward suspicious texts to 7726

Email Protection

1. Simplify their inbox: Set up email rules to separate known senders from unknowns
2. Teach the hover technique: Show how to hover over links to check destinations before clicking
3. Establish a verification rule: "If an email asks for money or information, call us first"

Online Shopping Protection

1. Bookmark trusted shopping sites so they go directly instead of through search results or ads
2. Set up credit card alerts for all transactions over a small threshold ($25)
3. Install a browser extension like uBlock Origin to block malicious ads

The Verification Call System

Set up a simple rule: before taking any action on an unsolicited call, text, or email, call a designated family member first.

This works because:

• It introduces a cooling-off period (breaks urgency pressure)
• It brings a second opinion (breaks isolation tactics)
• It has zero cost (takes 2 minutes)

Frame it positively: "I am not saying you cannot handle it. I am saying scammers are professionals who fool smart people every day. A second opinion protects everyone."

Red Flags to Teach

Print this list and put it near their phone:

1. "Do not tell anyone about this call" - isolation is a scam tactic
2. "You must act now or lose your benefits" - urgency is a scam tactic
3. "Pay with gift cards or wire transfer" - no legitimate entity accepts these
4. "Your grandchild is in jail/hospital" - ask for the family code word
5. "Your computer has a virus" - hang up and call a family member
6. "You won a prize but must pay fees" - real prizes do not require payment

Financial Safeguards

Beyond call and message blocking:

• Set up bank alerts for transactions over a threshold
• Consider a trusted contact on financial accounts (many brokerages and banks offer this)
• Review statements together monthly to catch unauthorized charges
• Freeze credit reports if they are not actively applying for credit

FAQ

How do I bring this up without making them feel patronized?

Frame it as a security upgrade, not a limitation. "I set this up on my own phone too" or "The scams are getting so good that everyone needs these settings now." Reference specific numbers: "The FTC has 1.5 million complaints. This is not about your judgment, it is about the scale of the problem."

What if they already gave money to a scammer?

Act immediately. Contact the bank to dispute charges, file an FTC report, and report to local police. If they paid with gift cards, contact the card issuer with the numbers. See our guide on what to do immediately after being scammed for the full recovery checklist.

Should I install monitoring software on their devices?

Proceed carefully. Full monitoring software can feel invasive and damage trust. Instead, focus on protective measures (call screening, spam filtering, browser protection) rather than surveillance. If cognitive decline is a concern, consult with their doctor about appropriate safeguards.