Older adults are among the most targeted people online and on the phone, often because criminals assume they have savings and may be less familiar with new technology. A few settings, set up together, and a family where anyone can ask for help without embarrassment stop most of it.
About 12 minutes to readAn afternoon togetherBeginner
1Start with a conversation, not a lecture
Many older people who are targeted by scammers never tell anyone, out of embarrassment or fear of losing their independence. The goal is for them to feel comfortable saying “I got a strange call today” before anything goes wrong.
Do this
Ask about the calls, texts and emails they get, with curiosity rather than worry. Many will have stories, and it opens the door.
Share your own near-misses. Hearing that you, or someone younger, nearly fell for something makes it easier for them to talk.
Agree that anyone in the family can ask “does this look right to you?” at any time, and that nobody will be judged for asking.
Respect their independence: offer to help set things up with them, and explain what each change does, so they stay in control of their own accounts.
2Set up their devices with them
Sit down together with their phone, tablet and computer. These steps take an afternoon and protect them from then on.
Do this
Turn on automatic updates for the device and apps (Module 3).
Turn on two-step sign-in for their email and bank, using whichever method they find easiest to manage (Module 1).
Help with passwords in the way that suits them: a password manager if they are comfortable with it, or a password book kept safely at home. Either is far better than using the same password everywhere.
Set a screen lock on their phone and tablet, and make text larger if it helps them read web addresses and messages properly.
Turn on your carrier's free account lock, so nobody can move their phone number (Module 2).
Remove apps and browser extensions they don't use or don't recognise.
3Cut down scam calls, texts and emails
Fewer unwanted contacts means fewer chances for a scammer to get through.
iPhone: Settings → Apps → Phone → Silence Unknown Callers, and Settings → Apps → Messages → Unknown Senders filtering (menu wording varies slightly by version). Calls from saved contacts still ring.
Android: in the Phone app's settings, turn on Caller ID & spam (or spam protection) and filter spam calls.
Your mobile carrier: most offer free spam-call blocking in their app.
The National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov stops calls from legitimate telemarketers. Scammers ignore it, which is useful in itself: after registering, a sales call is a warning sign.
Email: make sure spam filtering is on, and show them how to mark messages as spam or phishing.
A simple rule: let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A real caller will leave a message, and it can be checked calmly afterwards.
The tricks scammers use on calls and messages, including cloned voices of family members, are explained in Module 4. It is worth reading together.
4Protect their money
Transaction alerts on every bank account and card, sent to them, and to a family member too if they'd like.
A trusted contact person on their bank and investment accounts. Many US banks and brokerage firms let customers name someone they may contact if they suspect fraud or exploitation. This person cannot access the account or make transactions.
Lower daily transfer limits on accounts they don't use for large payments, so a single mistake can't empty them.
A family safe word for any call asking for money in an emergency, agreed in person, plus the habit of hanging up and calling back on a number they already have.
A rule to repeat until it sticks: no real bank, government agency or tech company will ever ask them to move money to a “safe account”, pay with gift cards or cryptocurrency, or give remote access to their computer.
A credit freeze at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion if they rarely apply for new credit. It's free, and stops new accounts being opened in their name.
5Plan for help before it's needed
Locked-out accounts, illness and lost phones are much easier to handle with a little preparation, and it avoids handing passwords around in a hurry.
Do this
Set up recovery and legacy contacts on their main accounts, such as Apple's Account Recovery and Legacy Contact, or Google's Inactive Account Manager, so a trusted person can help if they are locked out.
If they use a password manager, look at its emergency access feature, which lets a named person request access after a waiting period.
Keep a simple, private list of their important accounts and contacts (not the passwords themselves unless stored securely) somewhere safe that a trusted family member knows about.
Print a list of real phone numbers for their bank, doctor, pharmacy and family to keep by the phone, and save them in their contacts.
For longer-term planning, such as who can manage their finances if they can't, talk with them and an attorney about options like a financial power of attorney.
6Help without blame, and report it
If something does go wrong, how the family reacts matters. Shame makes people hide the next attempt. Calm, practical help gets money back more often and keeps them talking to you.
If they've been targeted or scammed
Call their bank straight away, using the number on their card, to stop payments and secure their accounts. Speed matters.
If they gave remote access to their computer, disconnect it from the internet and have it checked before using it for banking again.
Change passwords from a safe device, starting with email and banking.
Call the Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline on 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), every day from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time. Staff help people aged 60 and over report fraud and find support.
Warn them that follow-up “recovery” offers are scams too, even if they claim to be from the police or a law firm.
If you suspect someone they know is taking advantage of them, contact your local Adult Protective Services.
Remember
Scams are run by professionals, and they catch people of every age and background. Being targeted is not a sign that someone can no longer manage their own affairs.
Check your understanding
What's the best way to help an older relative with their security settings?
Do it together. They stay in control, understand what changed, and are more likely to ask you when something seems wrong.
Your father's “bank” calls asking him to move his savings to a safe account. What is it?
A scam. Callers often already have personal details. The request itself is the giveaway: hang up and call the bank on the number on his card.
Your aunt admits she sent money to a scammer last week. What helps most?
Act fast, without blame. Banks can sometimes stop or recall payments, and a calm response keeps her talking to you next time.
Your checklist
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This module is general educational information, not professional, legal or financial advice, and following it cannot guarantee that your family will not be targeted. Settings and services change; follow each provider's current instructions, and speak to a qualified attorney about legal arrangements such as a power of attorney. Organisations and products are named as examples only; Rondel Group is not affiliated with them. In an emergency, call 911.