Scams that target older adults and how to stop them

Falling for a scam isn't a sign of weakness or confusion. It's a crime committed against you.

What are the most common scams?

• The grandparent or family emergency scam: A caller says they're your grandchild, or a lawyer or police officer calling for them, and they need money fast.
• Fake government agent: Someone claims to be from Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, or law enforcement. They say your benefits will be cut off or you'll be arrested unless you pay right away.
• Tech support scams: A browser pop-up or phone call claims your computer has a virus. They ask for remote access to fix it, then steal information or claim they "accidentally" refunded too much and need money back.
• Bank and "safe account" scams: A caller posing as your bank or the government says your accounts are at risk and tells you to move your money to a "safe" account.
• Romance scams: Someone you meet online builds a relationship over weeks or months, then asks for money.
• Investment and crypto scams: You're promised big, guaranteed returns, often through Bitcoin or something similar.
• Lottery and sweepstakes scams: You're told you've won a prize but have to pay fees or taxes upfront to collect it.
• Medicare scams: Callers offer "free" medical equipment or genetic tests and ask for your Medicare number, then bill Medicare for services you never got.

Warning signs

• You're told to act right now.
• You're asked not to tell family, your bank, or anyone else.
• You’re told to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or Bitcoin ATMs, wire transfers, payment apps, or cash picked up by a courier.
• You’re threatened with arrest or losing your benefits.
• It sounds too good to be true.

How can you protect yourself?

• If a caller says they're from your bank, Social Security, or a family member, hang up and call a number you know is real.
• Set up a family code word. Pick a word only your family knows, and ask for it when someone calls asking for money.
• Hit the pause button and verify that the person on the other end is actually who they claim to be. Legitimate callers will have no problem with that.
• Don't click unknown links in texts or emails, and never give remote access to your computer to someone who contacted you.
• Add a trusted contact. Many banks and investment companies let you name a trusted person they can call if they spot unusual activity.
• Freeze your credit. No one can open accounts in your name.

If you've been scammed

• Call your bank or card company and ask them to stop or reverse payments.
• Change your passwords on any accounts the scammer may have accessed.
• Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
• Scammers often contact victims again, offering to recover lost money for a fee.