You've had that conversation. Your mom mentions a "tech support" call that seemed off, or your dad nearly wired money to someone claiming to be from his bank. The truth is, scammers are actively targeting your elderly parents—and the numbers are significant. In 2023 alone, Americans received approximately 4.7 billion robocalls, with seniors bearing a disproportionate share of fraud losses. But here's the good news: you don't have to feel helpless. With the right combination of technology, education, and safeguards, you can significantly reduce the risk your parents face.
Seniors lose an estimated $36.2 billion annually to scams—but many of these crimes are preventable with the right protections in place.
1. Set Up a Dedicated Call-Blocking App on Their Phone
The first line of defense is stopping scam calls before they even ring. While your parents' phone likely has basic spam filtering, it may not be sufficient. A dedicated call-blocking app works on-device—meaning it doesn't rely on cloud servers or data sharing—to identify and block known scam numbers before they reach your parent's phone.
Here's why this matters: traditional phone company spam filters typically catch 30-40% of scam calls. A modern call-blocking app can stop 90% or more because it uses real-time databases of known scammer numbers and patterns. The best part? Many of these apps work silently in the background. Your parents don't have to do anything except answer legitimate calls.
When choosing an app, look for one that's on-device (doesn't send your parents' data to servers), has a whitelist feature (so calls from family get through), and includes a "Do Not Disturb" mode for nighttime. Many apps offer a free version, but premium versions ($3-5/month) typically include text message blocking—equally important since scammers increasingly use SMS as heavily as voice calls.
2. Establish a Family Verification Code for Money Requests
I've noticed a pattern talking to people who've dealt with this: the "grandparent scam" works because it creates urgency and emotional pressure. Someone calls claiming to be your parent's grandchild in trouble, needing money wired immediately. Your parent panics and doesn't think clearly.
The solution is simple but powerful: create a family code word or number that only real family members know. If anyone—claiming to be family—asks for money without providing this code first, it's likely a scam. Make sure your parents understand this isn't about trust; it's about verification. Even if the caller sounds exactly like your kid, the code confirms it.
Have your parents practice this with you. Tell them: "If anyone calls asking for money—even if they say they're me—ask them for the code first. If they hesitate, hang up and call me directly." This habit has helped prevent many scams.
3. Teach Them to Never Verify Personal Information Over the Phone
Here's a trick scammers use frequently: they call claiming to be from your parent's bank, Social Security Administration, or Medicare. They may already have some basic info (maybe an account number or partial SSN) and use it to build credibility. Then they ask your parent to "verify" more information to "confirm their identity."
This is backwards. Legitimate organizations typically don't ask you to verify information you already provided. Your parent should understand this rule: if someone calls asking for personal information—Social Security number, bank details, passwords, credit card numbers—hang up immediately. No exceptions.
Instead, teach your parents this response: "I don't give personal information over the phone. If this is legitimate, send me something in writing or I'll call you back at the official number on my statement." Then they should hang up and independently verify by calling the organization's official number (not one the caller provided).
4. Monitor Their Financial Accounts Regularly
Even with all the prevention in the world, sometimes scammers get through. That's why detection is your second line of defense. If you have permission, set up online access to your parent's bank and credit card accounts. Check them weekly for unusual activity—transfers you don't recognize, small test charges (scammers often test stolen card numbers with tiny amounts first), or new accounts opened in their name.
Early detection typically saves thousands of dollars. If you catch fraudulent activity within days rather than weeks, banks are more likely to reverse charges and your parent's credit is less likely to be damaged. Many financial institutions also offer free credit monitoring for seniors—encourage your parents to sign up.
Talk to your parents about this proactively. Explain that you're not checking up on them—you're helping protect them. Most seniors appreciate the help once they understand it's about security, not control.
5. Help Them Create Strong, Unique Passwords and Enable Two-Factor Authentication
If a scammer gets into your parent's email or bank account, they can do serious damage. Weak passwords are a common way they gain access. Your parent might use something like "Grandkids2023" or "Password123"—easy to remember, easy to crack.
Work with them to create strong passwords (at least 12 characters, mixing uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols) and write them down in a secure place—a locked drawer, not a sticky note on the monitor. Better yet, help them set up a password manager (like Bitwarden or 1Password), which remembers passwords so they don't have to.
Then enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every account that matters: email, banking, Medicare, Social Security. Two-factor means even if someone steals the password, they can't access the account without a second verification—usually a code sent to your parent's phone or generated by an app. This is one of the most powerful protections available.
6. Register Them on the National Do Not Call Registry
While this won't stop all scammers (many ignore it), it can reduce the volume of unwanted calls your parents receive. Legitimate telemarketers are required to respect the Do Not Call Registry, so registering your parent's number eliminates a significant portion of unwanted calls.
It takes two minutes: go to donotcall.gov, enter their phone number, and confirm. The registration is permanent. Your parents can also file complaints directly on that same site if they continue receiving unwanted calls—which helps law enforcement track patterns.
7. Have Regular Conversations About Common Scams They Should Know
Knowledge is protection. Your parents need to know what scammers are saying right now. The tactics change—one month it's "your Social Security number has been suspended," the next it's "your Amazon account has unusual activity." Staying informed keeps them alert.
Have this conversation gently and regularly. Don't make them feel foolish or paranoid. Instead, frame it as "Here's what scammers are doing this month, so you'll recognize it if it happens." Share real examples. Tell them about the grandparent scam, the IRS scam, the tech support scam, the utility company scam, the Amazon refund scam.
Most importantly, create a culture where it's safe for them to tell you if they think they've been targeted. Many seniors don't report scam attempts because they're embarrassed. If your parents know you won't judge them, they're more likely to reach out—and you can help them respond quickly.
Two More Tricks Worth Knowing
Silence Unknown Callers: Most smartphones can automatically send unknown callers to voicemail. If it's important, they'll leave a message. This simple setting reduces the immediate stress of unexpected calls and gives your parents time to think before calling back.
Create a Trusted Contact List: Help your parents identify which numbers they actually call regularly (their doctor, bank, family members). Write these down and keep them accessible. When they need to call someone, they reference this list rather than calling a number from an incoming call.
Quick Action Summary
Protecting your elderly parents from phone scammers doesn't require becoming a tech expert. It's about layering simple, proven protections:
- ✅ Install a call-blocking app on their phone this week
- ✅ Create and teach a family verification code for money requests
- ✅ Establish the rule: never verify personal info over the phone
- ✅ Set up weekly financial account monitoring
- ✅ Help them create strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
- ✅ Register their number on the National Do Not Call Registry
- ✅ Have regular conversations about current scams they should watch for
- ✅ Enable "Silence Unknown Callers" on their phone
- ✅ Keep a list of trusted phone numbers they actually need to call
Start with the first three items this week. They're high-impact protections and take less than an hour total. Then work through the others over the next month. Your parents have built a lifetime of wisdom and experience—they just need the right tools and information to protect themselves in this new threat landscape. You've got this, and so do they.