Scams Targeting Older Adults: The 8 Most Common Scripts and How to Stay Protected

Your mother talks to someone on the phone for a long time, then hurriedly gets ready to go to the bank. Your father lets a "gas engineer" who turned up at the door into the house. Your grandmother asks a neighbour for help sending money to someone who says he is her "grandson". These scenes play out every day, in every city.

Older people are among the groups scammers target most often. That is not because older people are "naive", but because scammers deliberately exploit their politeness, their respect for authority, their devotion to the people they love and sometimes their loneliness.

In this guide we explain the 8 most common scripts and how to protect your older relatives without frightening them or hurting their pride.

Why are older people targeted?

• Savings: Older people are more likely to have savings, cash or jewellery at home or in the bank.
• Politeness and trust: They may see hanging up on someone, or turning away someone at the door, as rude.
• Respect for authority: Words like "police", "prosecutor" or "government official" carry great weight.
• Loneliness: Someone who lives alone may be more open to a long conversation with a voice that shows interest.
• Unfamiliarity with technology: They may not know about fake sites, number spoofing or voice cloning.
• Shame: After being scammed, they may be ashamed to tell their children, which leads to being targeted again.

The 8 most common scripts

1. Fake police officer, prosecutor or official

"Your name has come up in a criminal investigation", "Fraudsters have taken over your account; hand your money to us to protect it." The older person is told not to tell anyone and not to hang up. In the end the money is transferred to an account, or valuables are handed over to an "officer" or courier who comes to the door. For details, see our guide to phone scams.

2. The grandparent scam

"Grandma, it's me! I've had an accident, I'm at the police station, I need money right away, don't tell Mum and Dad." The voice may have been imitated with AI. The most effective protection against this trap is a family password.

3. Fake officials at the door

People who come to the door posing as gas, electricity, water, council or health workers. They get into the home on the pretext of a "meter check", a "leak inspection" or "a payment for older people". While one keeps the older person busy, another may take valuables from the house.

4. Fake bank calls

"A suspicious transaction was made with your card; to cancel it, tell me the code you've received." That code is the approval for a transaction the scammer is making.

5. Fake benefits and pension payments

Promises such as "a bonus payment for pensioners", "government support" or "a pension increase" are used to obtain personal details, card details or login passwords for government services.

6. Fake investments and easy money

"Invest in gold, currency or crypto, with a guaranteed 20 percent a month." Small gains are shown first, then all of the savings are requested.

7. Fake health products and "miracle cures"

Products sold on TV, by phone or on social media that "completely cure" chronic illnesses. They can lead to both lost money and interrupted real treatment.

8. Romance scams

Lonely older people, especially those who have lost a partner, may meet people on social media or by phone who show romantic interest. After a relationship lasting months, "urgent" requests for money begin: hospital bills, a gift stuck at customs, a ticket home from abroad.

Common warning signs

Explain these signs to your older relative in simple language:

• Anyone who asks for money, gold, a password or a code on the phone or at the door is a scammer.
• Anyone who says "don't tell anyone" is a scammer.
• Anyone who rushes you, frightens you or stops you hanging up is a scammer.
• Offers that are too good to be true (guaranteed returns, unexpected prizes) are not real.

10 tips to protect your older relative

1. Talk with respect, without frightening them

Phrases like "They'll trick you" or "You're getting old" make people defensive. Try instead: "There's a very common scam going around at the moment; I almost fell for it myself. I wanted to tell you about it too."

2. Role-play the scripts together

Ask, "What would you do if someone called saying they were a prosecutor?" Find the right answer together: "I'd hang up and call you."

3. Give one simple rule

Instead of complicated lists, one clear rule: "Say no to anyone who asks for money on the phone or at the door, and call me."

4. Agree on a family password

Anyone who says they are a family member and urgently asks for money must know the password.

5. Be reachable

Tell your older relative clearly that they can call you at any hour if something seems suspicious and that they should never worry about disturbing you. Thank them even when it turns out to be a "false alarm"; that makes sure they call again next time.

6. Set door rules

• Don't let in officials who turn up without an appointment.
• Verify the official's identity by calling the organisation's known number.
• Use a door chain or a peephole.
• If possible, plan visits from officials for when a family member or neighbour is there.

7. Make the phone safer

• Turn on the feature that silences unknown callers.
• Save family members and important numbers in the contacts in large letters and with photos.
• Use an app that blocks scam numbers.

8. Take banking precautions

• Lower daily transfer and withdrawal limits.
• Use the bank's extra approval mechanisms for large transactions.
• If they wish, talk about setting up notifications of account activity to a family member.

9. Stay in touch with neighbours and local shops

A caretaker, a neighbour or local shopkeepers may notice unusual behaviour (rushing to the bank, handing a bag to a stranger). Bank and jewellery shop staff also sometimes notice such situations and step in.

10. Make sure they don't feel ashamed

An older person who has been scammed stays silent mostly out of shame. Tell them: "These scammers are professionals. Even very clever, educated people get fooled. If anything happens, tell me; I won't be angry."

What to do if they have been scammed

1. Call the bank immediately: Block the cards and ask for transfers to be stopped.
2. Change passwords: Online banking and other important accounts.
3. Report it to the police: Report it with the evidence (call logs, receipts, messages). In the US you can also report it to the FTC; in the UK, the 159 line connects you safely to your bank.
4. Give emotional support: Whatever the loss, make sure your older relative is not left alone with their guilt.
5. Remember they may be targeted again: People who have been scammed can become targets of a second scam from someone who says "We'll help you get your money back."

How technology can help

In Koriva, calls from numbers that families have reported as scams are blocked; this protection works on Android and iPhone. Link checking and the web filter block known phishing sites. The simple screen for older relatives shows what to do when a suspicious call or message arrives and lets them reach the family with one tap. On Android, the "Protect my messages" option checks links arriving in WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and Messenger on the phone; only the older relative chooses what is shared with the family. If you suspect a family member's voice is being imitated, you can use "Verify family" to send them an "Is this really you?" request.

Still, technology does not replace a warm, regular relationship with your older relative. For broader information on elderly safety, see our article on elderly parent safety.

Conclusion

Scams targeting older people exploit the finest qualities, such as kindness and trust. The way to protect them is not to ignore these qualities but to support them with simple rules, regular conversations, a family password and a family member who is always reachable.