While scams and nefarious individuals have been around for ages, technological advances mean that scams are harder to spot than ever before. People of all ages can fall victim to a scam — but senior citizens are one of the most targeted groups.
Fraud complaints from people aged 60 and up have risen sharply over the last several years. In 2023, the amount of money lost to scammers by seniors totaled more than $3 billion. Andrew Lekashman, the founder of Serious Aging, says these scams will only become more common as time goes on. “It happens to everyone… The best thing you can do is only get fooled once, and after that be careful and avoid it in the future.”
Professionals and family members who deal with aging populations also need to become aware of these scams, says Lekashman. The better we are at spotting them, the better job we can do to help keep seniors safe. Here’s what he and other experts say to know about seniors and scams — and how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
“People pretending to be from the IRS, Medicare or a Medicare alternative are reaching out to older adults constantly to try and collect personal information and money.”
— Andrew Lekashman, founder, Serious Aging
What are the most common scams targeting seniors?
The most common scams, says Lekashman, impersonate a company or service seniors regularly use, or tug at their heartstrings. Some of the most frequent scams targeting seniors today are:
Government impersonation scams
Most seniors rely heavily on government programs like Medicare or SNAP to get by — and it’s easy for scammers to impersonate these programs. For one Pittsburgh family, that is how their elderly relative is most often targeted. “He has changed his insurance seven times in the last year,” says his daughter-in-law. “He has Alzheimer’s and will give his social security number and birthdate to anyone that calls to ask for it.”
This happens a lot, says Lekashman. “People pretending to be from the IRS, Medicare or a Medicare alternative are reaching out to older adults constantly to try and collect personal information and money.”
Political scams
“We just finished election season, and people who are either very loosely affiliated with a political party or flat out have nothing to do with the campaign have been scamming older adults constantly for the past year,” Lekashman says. Some of this lessens once elections are over, but seniors and their caregivers should remain vigilant for unusual requests or recurrent payment schemes.
Nonprofit donation scams
By tugging at a senior’s heartstrings, scammers routinely talk seniors out of their savings. Before donating money to any cause, verify the request or organization is legitimate and be wary of any dubious-sounding charities.
Romance, warranty and crypto scams
While less common, many seniors are still catfished by fake online suitors or talked into purchasing cryptocurrency or extended warranties. The same Pittsburgh senior who changed his insurance several times also signed up for an extended car warranty, despite not driving.
Pigeon drop scams
Some scammers use something called a “pigeon dropping scam,” where they convince the victim they’ve found a large amount of money they will share with them. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
How do scammers target seniors?
Anyone can fall victim to a good scammer, but seniors are often seen as an easy target because they may be less skilled with technology, may struggle with cognitive decline or may be simply just lonely. Additionally, Pooja A. Patel, an occupational therapist and the founder of Aging Together, says seniors often feel embarrassed once they realize they have been scammed.
Patel and her husband Sagar Pandya, a cybersecurity expert, have combined their skill sets to help seniors and their families understand scams. “It’s incredibly common to feel remorse, guilt and embarrassment following a mistake. Older adults are no different, especially when it comes to getting scammed,” says Patel.
Pandya points to several common tactics that scammers use to lure seniors:
- Artificial urgency. Scammers may tell seniors, “You must act now or face penalties.” This stops seniors from asking a trusted loved one for help.
- Fake rapport. Scammers use friendly conversation to build trust. These scams can occur via phone calls, texting schemes or emails.
- Verification requests. Scammers request verification of personal/account information due to supposed “suspicious activity.” Many seniors turn over their login credentials when asked to do so by someone sounding official.
- Secrecy. Scammers pressure seniors to keep conversations secret from family members who may notice the tactics more easily.
- Fake credentials. Scammers use official-sounding titles and company names to appear legitimate. Many seniors may not have the digital skills to check into a company’s trustworthiness — and scammers exploit that.
“Their first line of defense involves being wary when sharing personal information and checking whether the request is legitimate or not.”
— Jacob Kalvo, cybersecurity expert and CEO, Live Proxies
What can seniors do to protect themselves?
Given how sophisticated scammers have become, it’s important for seniors to develop some basic skills to recognize and avoid scams.
Always double-check before providing personal information
“Their first line of defense involves being wary when sharing personal information and checking whether the request is legitimate or not,” says Jacob Kalvo, a cybersecurity expert and CEO of Live Proxies. Seniors should educate themselves on the common tactics listed above and always double-check with a trusted loved one if they are unsure about an interaction.
Set up robust security protections
Turn on two-factor authentication on all important accounts, including medical and financial portals. For seniors with cognitive decline, the second form of authentication can be on a trusted loved one’s phone. This can help prevent changing passwords or other information at a scammer’s request.
For seniors who have given out bank account information or been convinced to pay large amounts of money, a prepaid credit card or reloadable debit card, like those available through Venmo and PayPal, can help protect your bank account.
Consider using internet safety controls
Software like Aura, Kaspersky Kids or Norton Family can be used to help seniors and their families monitor internet usage and spending, as well as incoming and outgoing calls and texts in some instances. Pandya also recommends verifying internet access is safe and secure. “Install reputable antivirus software, like Webroot or Norton, with identity-monitoring features.”
There are also a variety of apps designed to block robocalls or spam calls. Some of the apps preferred by these experts are:
Many cell phone carriers also offer spam or robocall controls. Contact the carrier directly for specific steps.
“Frequent discussions of these issues not only empower seniors but provide them with an enabling environment in which they can talk freely about any suspected activity that may come their way.”
— Jacob Kalvo,
How can family and caregivers help protect seniors?
Just like parents help their children navigate today’s internet, the Sandwich Generation is also responsible for helping their parents navigate it. Keep the lines of communication open to discuss seniors and scams — without judgment.
“Frequent discussions of these issues not only empower seniors but provide them with an enabling environment in which they can talk freely about any suspected activity that may come their way,” says Kalvo. It’s important to support seniors’ autonomy while also helping them stay safe.
If seniors feel shame from being targeted by or falling for a scam, Patel says to focus on these key points:
- Learning instead of blaming. Encourage them to improve their awareness of potential future scams. Help them identify red flags like those discussed above, and provide resources for continued learning about online safety and scams. Have ongoing discussions — new scams crop up all of the time.
- Validating emotions. It’s normal to feel upset or embarrassed, especially with scams, which can fool young working people as well. Provide examples of other well-known scams to let them know they’re not alone.
- Forgiveness. They may be worried that you’re upset with them, so let them know you empathize with their feelings. Watch for potential withdrawal or decrease in activity due to this experience. This may be a sign of worsening anxiety or depression.
Where to report a senior citizen scam
If you or a loved one has been the victim of fraud, you can contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.
You may also alert your state attorney general’s office, your local FBI office or file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. If you suspect financial abuse by a caregiver or relative, you can contact Adult Protective Services, your state’s social service agency that investigates abuse and neglect of aging adults. Your local Area Agency on Aging is another good resource.
The bottom line
Unfortunately, most seniors will be targeted by or fall victim to at least one scam, if not more, our experts warn. Even with the proper safeguards, some sophisticated scammers may still cause havoc. With digital guardrails, ongoing supervision and frequent discussions about safety and security, most seniors and caregivers should be able to avoid the majority of fraudulent interactions — but it’s not foolproof.
If a scam happens, report them immediately and learn from those instances to prevent it from happening again, say the experts. “My father has a saying for getting cheated out of money or losing it in an embarrassing way,” concludes Lekashman. “He calls it ‘paying tuition.'”
