How do I protect my elderly parent from scams?
Establish open communication, set up account alerts, and create a trusted-contact arrangement with their bank so unusual activity triggers a call before money moves.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Older adults are disproportionately targeted by scammers because they tend to have retirement savings, answer the phone, and may be more trusting of authority figures. Common tactics include grandparent scams, Medicare fraud, romance cons, and fake tech-support calls. The most effective defence is ongoing conversation: ask your parent to run any unexpected request past you before sending money or sharing information, framing it as a shared decision rather than a restriction on their independence.
Contact their bank or credit union and ask about a 'trusted-contact' program. Many institutions now allow account holders to name a family member who can be called if the bank notices unusual withdrawals, wire transfers, or gift-card purchases — without giving that contact authority to actually move the money. Pair this with low daily transfer limits on their online banking and text alerts for every transaction over a small threshold.
Technology barriers help too. Phone settings can silence unknown callers, routing them directly to voicemail. Many carriers offer spam-call-screening services. A call-filtering device that requires callers to press a key before ringing through eliminates most robocalls. If your parent uses email, configure spam filters aggressively and walk them through how to hover over a link before clicking.
Finally, isolation is a major risk factor: socially connected older adults are less vulnerable. Encourage regular contact with friends and community groups, because loneliness is what romance and lottery scammers exploit most. Let your parent know that no legitimate government agency or grandchild in trouble will demand secrecy or immediate gift-card payment.
Common red flags
- Parent suddenly mentions a new 'online friend' who has never asked to meet in person
- Unexplained cash withdrawals or repeated gift-card purchases
- Caller told them to keep the conversation secret from family
- Anxiety or urgency around a bill, arrest warrant, or prize that appeared without warning
- New person claiming to be a financial advisor or lawyer calling out of the blue
- Confusion about how much money they have after previously being on top of finances
What to do now
- Set up bank transaction alerts and low daily transfer limits on your parent's accounts
- Ask the bank about a trusted-contact or third-party notification program
- Enable call-screening and silence unknown callers on their phone
- Walk through the most common scam scripts together so they recognise the patterns
- Agree on a family code word that proves a real emergency — no code word, no money
- Review their accounts monthly together as a normal part of family time
- Visit /family-safety for a broader guide to protecting all family members
Frequently asked questions
What is a trusted-contact program at a bank?
A trusted-contact arrangement lets you name a family member or friend the bank can call if they notice suspicious activity on your account. The contact cannot access or move your money — they are only notified of a concern. Ask your branch to set this up.
How do I bring up scam protection without offending my parent?
Frame it as something you are doing for yourself too: 'I have been reading about scams targeting everyone, so I set up alerts on my own accounts and want to help you do the same.' Shared action feels collaborative rather than patronising.
My parent already lost money to a scammer. What now?
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, file a police report, and contact their bank immediately. Visit the /recovery section for a step-by-step checklist. Avoid shaming them — scammers are professional manipulators.