How to protect elderly parents from scams: 12 practical steps

1. 1

   Have one calm talk, then keep it going

   Talk early, before anything goes wrong. Frame it as teamwork, not a test. AARP quotes one expert: "it has to feel like help and not control." Share a scam you nearly fell for yourself. Then bring it up again every few weeks, the way you would mention the weather.

2. 2

   Agree on a family code word

   Scammers can clone a voice from a short clip online, according to the FTC. A private code word lets your parent check that a panicked caller is really family. The Alzheimer's Association suggests the same thing. Pick a word that is not on social media.

3. 3

   Teach the four signs of a scam

   The FTC boils almost every scam down to four signs. If two of them show up together, it is time to stop.

   • They pretend to be from a group you know, like a bank, Medicare or the police.
   • They say there is a problem or a prize.
   • They pressure you to act right now.
   • They tell you to pay a specific way, like gift cards, wire, crypto or a payment app.
4. 4

   Make "hang up and call back" the family rule

   Caller ID can be faked, so a call that shows a bank's name proves nothing. The rule is simple: hang up, then call the number on the back of the card or on a statement. Never use a number the caller gives. The FTC says that number "will take you to the scammer."

5. 5

   Turn on free call and text filters

   The FTC calls call blocking "your best defense against unwanted calls." Most of it is already free.

   • Carrier tools: Verizon Call Filter, T-Mobile Scam Shield and AT&T ActiveArmor each include free spam or scam call protection for their customers.
   • iPhone: In Settings, Apps, Phone, set Screen Unknown Callers to "Ask Reason for Calling" or "Silence."
   • Android: Many phones have built-in Scam Detection for messages, which is on by default.
6. 6

   Protect their email inbox

   Email is where fake invoices, renewal notices and "your account is locked" messages land. Learn Gmail's built-in tools together: Report phishing, Block, and the scam warnings. Then decide if you want a second layer that screens mail before your parent sees it. Our guide on stopping scam emails in Gmail walks through it.

7. 7

   Lock down their main accounts

   Run Google's free Security Checkup together, add a recovery phone and email, and turn on 2-Step Verification or a passkey. Google says passkeys "can't be shared, copied, written down, or accidentally given to someone else." See how to set up Gmail safely for a parent.

8. 8

   Set up bank alerts and name a trusted contact

   Ask the bank to text your parent about large withdrawals and unusual activity. Many banks, credit unions and brokerages also let your parent name a trusted contact the bank can call if it suspects fraud. The CFPB notes this person cannot see account information without your parent's consent, and FINRA says it gives no power to make trades.

9. 9

   Freeze their credit

   A credit freeze stops new accounts from being opened in your parent's name. The FTC says there is no cost to place or lift a freeze, and it does not affect the credit score. You have to contact all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

10. 10

    Flag the payment methods only scammers ask for

    Put a note by the phone: No one real asks for gift cards, wires, crypto or a payment app in a hurry. The FTC says, "Anyone who insists that you can only pay that way is a scammer." If your parent is ever on the way to a store or a Bitcoin ATM because of a phone call, that is the moment to call you.

11. 11

    Plan ahead legally while you can

    A durable financial power of attorney lets your parent choose who will help with money if they can no longer manage it. It only works if it is signed while they can still make that choice. Laws vary by state, so talk to an elder law attorney.

12. 12

    Know who to call before you need them

    Save these in your phone and theirs. Speed matters if money has moved.

    • Their bank or card company: The number on the back of the card.
    • National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-372-8311, Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Eastern.
    • AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 1-877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern.
    • Report it: ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.

Why this matters now

In 2025, people 60 and older filed 201,266 complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and reported $7.748 billion in losses. The average loss was $38,500.

The biggest losses for older adults in 2025 came from investment scams ($3.52 billion) and tech or customer support scams ($1.04 billion), according to the same FBI report. These are not obvious cons. They are polished, patient and often personal.

How to protect elderly parents from phone scams

• Turn on your carrier's free scam call protection and the phone's own unknown-caller screening (step 5 above).
• Practice the family code word and the "hang up and call back" rule out loud once. It sticks better.
• Remind them that Medicare, Social Security and the IRS do not call out of the blue demanding payment.
• If a caller says "don't tell your family," that alone means it is a scam.

How to protect elderly parents from financial scams

• Bank alerts for large withdrawals, plus a trusted contact on each account.
• A credit freeze at all three bureaus.
• A shared rule: any request to move money "to keep it safe" gets a call to you first. The FTC says your money "is fine where it is."
• A look at statements together once a month, if your parent is comfortable with that.

Where OwlGuardian fits

OwlGuardian covers one specific gap: scam emails. It scans your parent's incoming Gmail and moves suspicious messages to quarantine before they see them. You, as their Trusted Contact, get an alert and decide to release or keep each one. You only see flagged emails, never their normal mail.

For a suspicious text, pop-up or letter, your parent can say "Hey Siri, call my Owl" to check a screenshot or photo and get a verdict in about five seconds. OwlGuardian does not block calls or texts, so keep the carrier and phone filters above turned on too.

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