Don’t Fall for These 7 Common Elderly Phone Scams

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According to reports by FBI, $3.4 Billion were lost to scams targeting seniors in 2023, 11% more than the previous year.

An average senior targeted by fraudsters suffered a loss of $33,915 while almost 6000 seniors lost more than $100,000 to a scam.

A Phone call is the most common method for scammers to contact and target the elderly.

Here are some of the most common phone scams targeting seniors, based on reported cases. You can also check my earlier tips on protecting seniors from these scams.

Read More: Top 10 Online Scams Targeting Seniors

1. Tech Support Scams

Tech support scam was number one reported crime type in 2023, according to FBI. More than 18000 seniors lost almost $600 millions to tech support frauds.

How it Works

The scammer calls pretending to be a computer technician from a well-known tech company and claims to have detected an issue with your computer.

They ask for remote access under the pretense of running a free diagnostic test. Then they try to convince you to make a payment to fix a problem that does not exist.

Through remote access to your computer, they can send a virus file or use other methods to steal your data and private information.

2. Investments Scams

While most seniors were victim of tech support scams, investment scams proved to be costliest with losses exceeding $1.2 Billion in loss in 2023.

These types of elderly phone scams involve promises of big payouts and guaranteed returns by tricking you into investing money.

Older adults have savings and other assets and attract more investment scammers than other age groups.

How it Works

Investment fraudsters often pretend to be telemarketers or financial advisors that seem friendly and smart.

They earn your trust and present you with an “urgent investment opportunity” for a limited time to trick you into investing.

3. Grandparent Scam

This is one of the well-known phone scams targeting elderly, yet many seniors fall for it.

How it Works

The victim receives a call from someone impersonating their grandchild, speaking in a frantic voice and claiming to be in trouble due to an emergency, accident, or arrest.

To sound convincing, the scammer drops personal details—often gathered from social media—and plays on emotions, pretending to be hospitalized or stranded in a foreign country.

The caller urges the grandparent to send some money to get him/ her out of trouble and also begs to not tell anyone about his situation.

Sometimes the scammer pretends to be a police officer or lawyer trying to help the grandchild.

The grandparent scams are still common because the scammers play with the emotions of older adults.

Seniors, who even have knowledge about these types of scams, fall for them.

4. Lottery Scams

Next category of phone scams targeting elderly are sweepstakes and lottery scams. According to research by Federal Trade Commission, 10% of scams fall into this category.

How it Works

The scammer calls seniors, claiming they’ve won a lottery or prize, often using the name of a well-known organization to appear legitimate.

To claim the winnings, victims are asked to pay fees for taxes, shipping, or handling—only to receive nothing in return.

Scammers may ask for personal or banking details, claiming they need them to transfer your prize.

They create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to “act now” for a limited-time offer. These scams exploit greed, excitement, and fear of missing out.

5. Charity Scams

This type of phone scam is used to target seniors after a tragic event or major disaster such as a hurricane.

Charity scammers are also active during holidays when people donate more than at any other time.

How it Works

Scammers ask you to donate to an organization or person who is in trouble. They also emotionally trigger you to donate because it is the holiday season.

They often imitate the name and material of a real charity to gain your trust and make you believe that you are doing a great act of kindness.

6. Senior Benefits Scam Calls

Being a senior comes with many benefits, perks, and discounts, but it also makes you a target for scams.

How it Works

Seniors get a phone call telling them that they need a new Medicare card or health insurance to get medical care.

The scammers may also tell seniors to claim a discount on their insurance by acting on a phone call immediately.

They use these types of telephone scams targeting elderly to steal personal data like date of birth and social security number.

7. Siri, Alexa and Google Home Scams

This is a type of scam where scammers are getting potential victims to make a call instead of receiving a call.

How it Works

Scammers manipulate virtual assistants like Alexa, Siri, or Google Home to provide fake customer support numbers.

Unknowingly, you call what you believe is a legitimate service—whether an airline to change seats or a tech support hotline—only to be connected with fraudsters ready to steal your money and personal information.

Other common scams targeting seniors include romance scams, government imposter scams, and the “Can you hear me?” scam, where scammers trick victims into saying “yes” to authorize unwanted charges.

Fraudsters constantly devise new phone scams to exploit older adults, making awareness and caution essential.

Report, If You Have Been a Target of a Scam

Many scams and frauds go unreported because either people are ashamed to admit that they have been scammed or they do not know how to report a scam.

Do not be ashamed to report if you have been a target of a scam, it only helps scammers to target more people.

Do the following things to make sure that the crime does not go unnoticed.  

• Report the Scam to FTC: You can report to FTC online or via phone
• Report Identity Theft: If you think you have shared personal or financial information with a scammer, go to the Identity Theft website to report the identity theft and get a recovery plan.
• National Elder Fraud line: If you or your loved one has been a victim of elder financial fraud or scam, reach out to Nation Elder Fraud Line. They assign you a case manager and treat you with respect and understanding.
• NAPSA: National Adult Protective Services Association helps you on local levels. This nonprofit works with older adults and disabled persons if they have been victimized financially.

Let your bank know if you have a victim of financial fraud to discuss the options to protect your financial information in the future.  

These are some of latest and recent elderly phone scams. The scammers keep coming up with new and sophisticated methods to target senior citizens via phone calls and texts.

Never share personal or financial information over the phone to avoid scams. If you become a victim of financial fraud or identity theft, report it immediately to protect yourself and others.

Here are some more articles you will find interesting

• Tips to teach technology to the elderly
• How to teach seniors to use a smartphone
• 10 iPad activities for seniors
• Tips to teach basic computer skills to older adults
• 12 Fun activities for seniors to do at home