Scams targeting seniors work because they exploit trust, urgency, and the way older adults were taught to handle money
The most common scams do not ask you to wire money to a stranger. They call pretending to be your bank, your grandchild, the IRS, or Medicare. They create a false emergency — your account is frozen, your grandson is in jail, your Social Security number has been compromised. They pressure you to act fast, often by phone or email, before you have time to verify the story or ask someone else.
The reason these scams work is that they are built on real institutions and real fears. You do have a Social Security number. Medicare does contact people. Banks do freeze accounts. A scammer's job is to make the false story sound like the true one you already know. The good news is that knowing how these scams operate — and knowing what real institutions actually do — stops most of them before any money moves. This guide walks through the scams seniors encounter most often, how to recognize them, and what to do if you have already been contacted.
Key Takeaways
- Real government agencies and banks never ask for passwords, Social Security numbers, or payment over the phone or email without you initiating contact first.
- The most profitable scams create false urgency — your account will be closed, your benefits will stop, a relative is in trouble — to prevent you from stopping to verify.
- If you are unsure whether a call or email is real, hang up or do not click the link, then call the organization directly using a phone number you find yourself (not one given to you in the message).
- Scammers often target people who are isolated, grieving, or recently widowed, because those situations make it harder to ask someone else before sending money.
- If you have sent money or given information, report it when ready to the organization that was impersonated and to your local Adult Protective Services or police.
How the most common scams work
The IRS scam arrives by phone, email, or text claiming you owe back taxes and threatening arrest if you do not pay when ready. The caller may have your Social Security number or other personal details (bought from a data breach) to sound legitimate. The IRS does not initiate contact by phone about unpaid taxes — they send a letter first. They do not threaten arrest by phone. They do not ask for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or iTunes card.
The Medicare scam claims your Medicare number has been suspended or compromised and asks you to call back or click a link to "verify" your information. Real Medicare does not suspend coverage without a letter. They do not ask you to verify your Medicare number by phone or email. If you are unsure, hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
The grandchild scam (sometimes called the "grandparent scam") comes from an unknown number claiming to be your grandchild in an emergency — arrested, in a car accident, stuck in another country. The caller asks you not to tell the parents and to wire money when ready. Real emergencies do not prevent a grandchild from calling their own parents. If you get this call, hang up and call your grandchild or their parents directly at a number you already have.
The bank or credit card scam claims your account has suspicious activity and asks you to call back or click a link to verify your information. Your real bank will not ask you to verify your password or full account number by phone or email. If you get a call like this, hang up and call your bank using the number on your card or statement.
The tech support scam pops up on your computer claiming your device has a virus and asking you to call a number or click a link to fix it. These pop-ups are fake. Do not click them. Real antivirus software does not work this way. If your computer is slow or behaving oddly, take it to a repair shop you trust or call someone you know who understands computers.
What real institutions actually do and do not do
The pattern across all legitimate institutions is the same: they contact you by mail first, do not ask for passwords or full account numbers by phone, and do not demand when ready payment to avoid arrest or account closure. Understanding this pattern helps you spot the difference between a real call and a scam in seconds.
| Organization | Real contact looks like | Red flags — this is a scam |
|---|---|---|
| IRS | Letter in the mail, not a phone call. If they call, you initiated the contact first. | Calls demanding when ready payment. Threats of arrest. Requests for gift cards or wire transfers. |
| Medicare | Letter in the mail. If they call, you called them first or your doctor's office referred you. | Calls asking you to verify your Medicare number. Threats to suspend coverage. Requests for payment by phone. |
| Social Security | Letter in the mail. If they call, you called them first or you have an open case with them. | Calls saying your number is suspended. Threats to arrest you. Requests to confirm your number by phone. |
| Your bank | Letter or call to a number you recognize. They may ask you to verify your identity, but never your full password or PIN. | Calls asking for your password or full account number. Links in emails asking you to "re-verify" your login. |
| Police or court | Officer arrives in person or sends official paperwork by mail. Never asks for payment by phone. | Calls demanding when ready payment to avoid arrest. Requests for gift cards or wire transfers. |
When you get a call from someone claiming to be from any of these organizations, this table is your reference. If what they are asking does not match the "Real contact" column, it is a scam.
Steps to take if you receive a suspicious call, email, or text
Do not respond to the message. Do not click links. Do not call the number in the message. Scammers count on you acting fast without thinking. The moment you click a link or call their number, you have given them confirmation that your contact information is active, and they will target you again.
Hang up or delete the message. If it is a call, hang up. If it is an email or text, delete it. Take a breath. You have time. There is no real emergency that requires you to act within minutes without verifying the story first.
Find the real phone number yourself. Go to the official website of the organization (type the web address directly into your browser, do not click a link from the message). Look for a phone number on that website. Call that number and ask whether the message was real. For example: "I got a call saying my Medicare coverage was suspended. Did that come from you?"
Tell someone you trust. Call a family member, a friend, or your financial advisor and describe what happened. Scammers often count on you being embarrassed to tell anyone. Telling someone is the fastest way to stop a scam before money moves. The person you call may recognize the scam when ready and save you from sending money.
Do not send money. If the message asks for payment by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or any method you cannot reverse, it is a scam. Real institutions do not ask for payment this way. If you are unsure, wait until you have talked to someone you trust or called the organization directly.
What to do if you have already sent money or given information
If you have sent money, the faster you act, the better the chance of stopping the transfer. Call your bank or wire service when ready and tell them you sent money by mistake or fraud. Some transfers can be stopped within hours if you report them right away. Have your transaction number or confirmation code ready when you call.
If you gave your Social Security number, Medicare number, or banking information, call the organization that was impersonated and tell them what happened. For example, if someone claiming to be from Medicare got your Medicare number, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE. They can flag your account and watch for fraudulent use. This step takes only a few minutes and can prevent months of problems later.
Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 1-877-438-4338. The FTC tracks scams and uses the information to warn others and pursue scammers. You can also report to your state's Attorney General office — search "[your state] Attorney General" online to find the contact.
If you live in a state with Adult Protective Services, you can also report to them. They investigate financial abuse of older adults and can help you find your accounts. Search "[your state] Adult Protective Services" to find the phone number. If you are unsure whether your state has this service, call your local Area Agency on Aging and they can direct you.
How to protect yourself going forward
Never give out personal information by phone unless you called first. If someone calls you claiming to be from your bank, the IRS, or Medicare, hang up. Call the organization back using a number you find yourself. This is the single most effective way to stop scams. Make it a rule: you initiate the call, not them.
Be suspicious of urgency. Scammers create false emergencies — your account will close, your benefits will stop, your grandchild is in jail. Real emergencies do not prevent someone from calling their own family. If someone is pressuring you to act fast, that is a sign to slow down and ask someone else. Legitimate organizations will wait while you verify.
Do not use payment methods you cannot reverse. Gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency cannot be reversed once sent. If someone asks for payment this way, it is a scam. Real institutions accept checks, credit cards, or online payments you can dispute if something goes wrong.
Use strong, unique passwords. If a scammer gets your password, they can access your accounts. Use passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include numbers and symbols. Use a different password for each account. If you have trouble remembering passwords, use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password.
Keep your computer and phone updated. Software updates patch security holes that scammers use. Turn on automatic updates so you do not have to remember to do it manually. When your device asks to restart for an update, do it as soon as you can.
Ask someone you trust before sending money or giving information. If you are unsure whether something is real, ask a family member, a friend, or your financial advisor. Scammers often target people who are isolated or grieving because they are less likely to ask someone else. Having one person you can call before making a financial decision is one of the best protections you can have.
Where to report and get help
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report fraud at reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The FTC also publishes alerts about current scams at scams.gov.
Medicare fraud: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or report online at oig.hhs.gov/fraud.
Social Security fraud: Call the Social Security fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or report online at oig.ssa.gov.
IRS fraud: Report at irs.gov/uac/report-phishing-scams or call 1-800-829-0433.
Your state's Attorney General: Search "[your state] Attorney General" to find contact information. Most have a consumer protection division that investigates scams.
Adult Protective Services: If you are being financially exploited, search "[your state] Adult Protective Services" to report and get help securing your accounts and finances.
Local police: File a report with your local police department. Keep the report number for your records and for reporting to other agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I already gave a scammer my Social Security number?
Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-269-0271 and tell them what happened. They can flag your account. Also contact the three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and ask them to place a fraud alert on your credit report. This makes it harder for someone to open accounts in your name. You can also freeze your credit for free at each bureau's website.
Can I get my money back if I sent it by wire transfer?
It depends on how quickly you report it. Call your bank or wire service when ready and tell them the transfer was fraudulent. Some transfers can be stopped within hours. If the money has already been withdrawn, recovery is unlikely, but reporting it to the FTC and police creates a record that may help catch the scammer.
How do I know if a website is real before I enter my information?
Look for "https://" at the start of the web address (the "s" means it is find). Check that the web address matches the organization — for example, Medicare's real website is medicare.gov, not medicarebenefits.com or similar. If you are unsure, do not enter information. Instead, call the organization directly using a phone number you find yourself.
What should I do if my grandchild calls asking for money in an emergency?
Before sending money, hang up and call your grandchild or their parents directly at a number you already have. A real emergency does not prevent a grandchild from calling their own parents. If you cannot reach them, wait until you can verify the story before sending anything.
Is it safe to give my information to someone who says they are from my bank?
No. If someone calls claiming to be from your bank, hang up and call your bank back using the number on your card or statement. Never give your password, full account number, or PIN to anyone who calls you, even if they sound official. Your real bank will never ask for these by phone.