Senior Scam Safety Questions & Answers

Watch for pressure to act immediately, requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency, threats, unexpected prizes, or requests for passwords and verification codes. Do not click links or use the phone number in the message. Stop and contact the company or agency using a number you already trust.

Stop communicating with the suspected scammer. If money or account information was involved, contact your bank, credit-card company, or payment service immediately using a trusted phone number. Change affected passwords, save messages and receipts, and report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If money was stolen, also contact your local police.

Talk about scams without blame or embarrassment. Agree on a family code word for emergencies, encourage a pause before sending money, and ask them to call a trusted person when something feels urgent or unusual. Review privacy settings, strengthen important passwords, and turn on two-step verification where available.

No legitimate government agency will demand payment by gift card or cryptocurrency. Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or cash delivered by courier are major scam warnings. Hang up and contact the organization directly using the phone number on an official statement, card, or government website.

A grandparent scam happens when someone pretends to be a grandchild, relative, lawyer, or police officer and claims there is an emergency. The caller asks for money and often demands secrecy. Hang up, call the family member directly at a number you already know, and use your family code word before sending anything.

Scam-Proof Senior is an educational service founded by Pete Miller, a fellow senior and veteran who lost a significant amount of money to a scam. It helps seniors, families, and veterans recognize scams, protect personal information, and use technology with confidence through plain-English lessons, scam alerts, checklists, and presentations. It is not a technology repair service.