Phone scams targeting older adults
Phone scams are some of the most common and effective scams targeting older adults. The phone feels personal — a voice on the line carries more emotional weight than a text or email. Scammers exploit that by using urgency, fear, or urgency disguised as helpfulness.
If a caller pressures you to act immediately, asks for unusual payment methods (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), or asks you to keep something secret from family — it's almost certainly a scam.
Key habits
- Hang up first, then verify by calling the company yourself (using a number from your bill or their official website, not the caller).
- Real government agencies (IRS, Social Security, Medicare) contact you by mail first, never demand gift cards, and never threaten arrest.
- Pick a family code word that only your real family knows. Ask for it before sending money in any "emergency."
- It's OK to be rude to a scammer. Hang up without explaining.