For families
Keep your parent safe from scam calls
Agree on a code word, keep real numbers by the phone, make one rule about money, and know the payment red flags. These four steps make scam calls much easier to spot. For older adults, scams that start with a phone call cost a median $3,000 (FTC, 2026).
A 6-step checklist
- 1
Agree on a family code word
Anyone who calls «in trouble» must say it. A scammer, even with a cloned voice, won’t know it.
- 2
Write down the real numbers
Bank (from the back of the card), each family member, the doctor. Keep the list by the phone.
- 3
Make one rule about money
No moving, withdrawing or sending money because a caller said so, without talking to family first.
- 4
Name the payment red flags
Gift cards, Bitcoin ATMs, gold and cash couriers are always a scam.
- 5
Add trusted numbers
Save family, doctors and the pharmacy as contacts so real calls are easy to recognize.
- 6
Set up call protection
A service that checks calls during the conversation can warn your parent and alert you.
How to talk about scams
- Start with a story, not a warning: share a real case and ask, «Would that call have fooled you?»
- Make it about everyone: scammers target all ages, and the people they fool are not foolish.
- Practice together: one of you plays the «bank» or the «grandson» and the other hangs up.
- Promise no blame. A parent who fears embarrassment may hide a scam call; one who doesn’t will tell you early.
- Check in after news of a new scam, briefly and often, instead of one long talk.
Three rules to share
- Real agencies never ask for gift cards, crypto or cash.
- Never read out codes, card or Social Security numbers.
- In doubt? Hang up and call back on a number you know.
If a scam call already worked
1. Stop the money
Call the bank on the number on the card. For gift cards, crypto kiosks or wires, contact that company right away.
2. Report it
ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov. If a courier is coming to the door, call 911.
3. Get help
National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-372-8311 (Mon–Fri, 10am–6pm ET). AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 877-908-3360.
Guides
- Caller ID Spoofing: Why the Number on Your Screen Can LieScammers can make any name or number show up on caller ID, including your bank, a government agency or a local number. Here’s how spoofing works and what to do.
- How to Report a Phone Scam: Where to Go and What to IncludeReport phone scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, online fraud and losses at ic3.gov, unwanted sales calls at DoNotCall.gov, and forward scam texts to 7726.
- How to Tell if a Call Is Really From Your BankYou can’t tell from caller ID. Hang up and call the number on the back of your card. Banks don’t call to have you move money to protect it or read back a code.
- How to Protect Elderly Parents From Phone Scams: 8 Steps That WorkAgree on a family code word, hang up and call back, and never move money on a caller’s say-so. Practical steps to protect an older parent from phone scams.
- Recovery Scams: When Someone Offers to Get Your Money BackAfter a scam, fake “recovery” agents, law firms and even fake FBI staff call to promise a refund for a fee. Real agencies don’t charge to get your money back.
- What to Do if Your Parent Was Scammed: Steps by Payment TypeAct fast and start with how the money was paid: bank, card, gift card, wire, crypto or mailed cash. Then report it and support your parent without blame.
Know the six common scam calls
Questions
How do I protect my elderly parent from phone scams?
Agree on a family code word, keep real phone numbers by the phone, set one rule that no money moves because a caller asked, and explain that gift cards, crypto, gold and cash couriers are always scams. Call protection that checks calls during the conversation adds a warning and an alert to you.
Why are phone scams so costly for older adults?
The FTC found that when a scam started with a phone call, older adults lost a median $3,000, compared with $599 when it started on social media. For people 80 and older, phone calls were the contact method with the highest total losses.
What should I do if my parent was scammed?
Call the bank or payment company right away, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov, and call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 for help with next steps. Avoid blame, and watch for «recovery» scams that promise to get the money back.