Scammers often count on a simple thing: a phone call that feels urgent and official. Older adults are a frequent target, and the tactics are familiar once you know them. This guide walks through the common patterns, a short set of questions to ask on any unexpected call, and where to report a scam. It is general education, not legal, financial, or tax advice.
Act I: Why scammers target older adults
Scammers tend to pose as organizations people already trust. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the government agency that polices consumer fraud, warns that impostors may pretend to be well-known organizations, including reputable charities. One version goes like this: a caller says you have won a charity-sponsored sweepstakes because you once donated to that charity. The charity connection makes the call sound legitimate, and the prize makes it exciting. That combination is the point.
The stakes can also be higher for older adults. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which oversees consumer financial products, says that losing money or possessions to scams, fraud, and exploitation can be especially devastating for older adults. Many have less time or ability to earn back what they lose. A loss that a younger person could recover from over several years may be much harder to absorb on a fixed income.
This is also tracked at the federal level. The FTC has published a data spotlight, a short report that turns complaint data into charts, titled "False alarm, real scam: how scammers are stealing older adults' life savings." The agency also publishes an annual report to Congress on its work to protect older adults. The FDIC, which insures bank deposits, runs a consumer page on scams aimed at older adults too. Taken together, the message from regulators is consistent: this is a known and persistent problem.
Act II: Recognizing the patterns
Government impersonation is one of the most common patterns. The FTC advises that a call threatening arrest for missing jury duty is likely a scam and should be ignored. Courts and law enforcement do not generally handle jury summons by phone demanding payment on the spot. If a call like this comes in, hang up and look up the court's number yourself.
Pressure is the other thread running through nearly every scam. Scammers create urgency or threat, such as an arrest warning, a lawsuit, or a prize that must be claimed right now. The FTC and the National Elder Fraud Hotline both describe this pattern. Urgency is a signal to slow down. Real agencies rarely need you to decide in the next five minutes.
Some scammers now pose as the help line itself. The National Elder Fraud Hotline, a free service from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime, has reported impostors who claim to be hotline staff. These callers threaten lawsuits and ask for a Social Security number, other personal identifiable information (PII, meaning details that can identify you), or money. The hotline says not to provide either. Scammers have also used the hotline's real name and phone number, so a familiar name or number does not, by itself, prove that a caller is genuine.
How to verify a caller before acting
The core step is simple. If someone claims to be from a charity, a government agency, or a hotline, hang up. Then contact that organization using a number you already trust, such as the number on your statement, the back of your card, or an official website you typed in yourself. Do not use the number the caller gives you. Scammers can make any number look official.
It helps to ask yourself three questions during any unexpected call. First, did the caller claim an affiliation I can check on my own? Second, are they asking for a Social Security number, personal information, or money? Third, is a prize, arrest, or lawsuit being presented as urgent? If the answer to any of these feels off, pause. A yes to the second question is especially worth noticing, because legitimate agencies rarely demand payment or sensitive details during an unsolicited call.
It is also worth knowing the limits of this advice. The sources offer general verification guidance, not a step-by-step procedure for every caller. There is no single script that confirms a stranger's identity. For that reason, independent confirmation is the safe default. If you cannot confirm it, treat the call as unverified and do not act on it.
Reporting, support, and planning ahead
If you think you have been targeted, the National Elder Fraud Hotline accepts reports of fraud against anyone age 60 or older. It is free, and it is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time, at 833-372-8311. Multiple languages are available, including Spanish. Reporting helps authorities pursue offenders, and it may prevent others from becoming victims.
Many crimes go unreported. Victims may feel scared or embarrassed, or they may not know whom to contact. Those feelings are common, and they are exactly what scammers count on. A short report is still useful, even if you have already lost money or are unsure what happened. The hotline's own materials cite FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data showing more than $184 million in losses from fraud and romance scams aimed at older adults in 2018. That figure is dated, so treat it as a snapshot of the past rather than a current total.
Planning ahead can also reduce risk. The CFPB suggests choosing a trusted contact person who can help watch for financial exploitation, and working with your bank or credit union on protections against that exploitation. The CFPB also recommends planning for diminished capacity or illness while you are still in a position to make those choices. The Senate Special Committee on Aging lists resources including a fraud hotline, Money Smart for Older Adults, and a Scam Tracker. For state-level help, the sources point readers to their state attorney general's office.
Check official sources or a qualified professional for your own situation. The guidance here is educational, and the best next step depends on the details of your case.
Please seek a professional. This article is general information, not financial, tax or insurance advice. Please seek a licensed financial, tax or insurance professional about your own situation.
