Older adults are losing billions to scammers, and the people behind the fraud know how to gain their trust. According to the National Council on Aging, adults 60 years and older reported losses exceeding $7.7 billion in 2025. Why do bad actors target older adults? Those in this demographic are more likely to own homes, have retirement funds and hold their savings in bank accounts. Many also grew up in an era that emphasized trust, respect and politeness—making them more inclined to engage with people who sound legitimate or authoritative.
To help you spot the warning signs, Carroll Lutheran Village, a Life Plan Community in Westminster, Maryland, has put together seven tips to help protect your finances and keep your personal information private.
1. Know what’s out there
A good first step in fighting fraud aimed at older adults is to understand the most common tricks scammers have up their sleeves.
Government imposters: Fraudsters pose as IRS, Social Security or Medicare representatives, threatening arrest or canceled benefits to pressure you into sending wire transfers or gift card payments.
Tech support fraud: Fake pop-ups or phone calls ask for large payments or remote access to your computer to fix non-existent problems.
Family scams: Criminals pose as a grandchild or other loved one experiencing a medical or legal crisis. Some use AI voice cloning to mimic their actual voice.
Investment schemes: High-pressure pitches, often tied to cryptocurrency, promise risk-free, guaranteed returns.
Charitable scams: Con artists seek donations for fake charities or impersonate legitimate organizations, pocketing money intended to help others.
2. Watch what you click
Text or email links—even those that look official—can be used for phishing, a tactic cybercriminals use to trick you into sharing passwords, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. If the message is from a company you do business with, log into your account through its website and see if it appears on your account page. It also never hurts to call the customer service number on the website—or if it’s a credit or debit card, the number on the back of your card—and ask about the message in question.
Here’s another helpful strategy many people aren’t aware of: Before clicking a link in any email or advertisement, hover your mouse over it to see if it’s a true URL. If the URL doesn’t match the expected destination, do not click. Avoid clicking random pop-up ads, too, because they can download malware, spyware or other malicious programs onto your device.
3. Know how to spot fake websites
Low-quality visuals, sloppy layouts and the absence of a physical address are warning signs to leave the site. Another tip-off: deals that sound too good to be true. Scammers often create fake online stores offering incredible deals, then run ads for them on social media. Once you’re there, these sites either steal your payment information or trick you into buying fake products. Keep in mind, too, that official sites usually end in .gov or .edu, so if you land on a site with an address like IRS.com or IRS.org, it’s best to leave quickly.
4. Don’t overshare on social media
Posting details like names, birthdays and anniversaries on social media can make you an easier mark for scams targeting older adults. For example, if a fraudster sees a Facebook post about your grandson Joseph’s high school graduation, they might call you pretending to be “Joseph,” and claim they’ve been arrested or in a car accident and need emergency cash. Tip: When in doubt, confirm the story by calling your grandchild or another family member, or consider having a code word that only you and your grandkids know.
It’s also wise to never publish or share your phone number or email address on social media because this information can be used for identity theft or phishing. Most social media platforms also offer privacy settings that can help you protect your contact information.
5. Hang up on unsolicited phone calls
As an older adult, you likely came of age when politeness was considered an important virtue. Unfortunately, scammers can use that natural inclination toward courtesy against you during unsolicited phone calls. Today’s scammers use technology to record your voice—particularly the word “yes”—and use it to make purchases in your name. Fake charities also make frequent unsolicited phone calls to older adults, and many of these dubious groups have names that sound like legitimate organizations. If you want to give to a charity close to your heart, your safest strategy is to call them yourself or visit their website.
But what if they claim to be from a “government” organization? It’s likely they aren’t. Agencies like the IRS generally contact you first by mail rather than an unexpected phone call or email, so ignore any threats about arrests or fines and hang up.
6. Practice good password hygiene
Strong passwords for online shopping or financial transactions are one of your best weapons against scams targeting older adults. As a rule of thumb, the most robust passwords are 12 to 16 characters long and use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid using personal information like birthdays or addresses, common words or predictable patterns like “1-2-3-4.” Pro tip: Use a password manager app to safely store your login credentials from multiple sites—and automatically fill them in.
7. Act quickly if you think you’ve been targeted
If, despite all your precautions, you experience a scam, don’t be too hard on yourself—it happens to many people. Instead, turn your frustration into action. First, stop all contact with the scammer, report the fraud to your financial institutions and change the passwords for any compromised accounts. Then, report the incident to law enforcement and government agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to help prevent others from being scammed.
Find security and independence at our Westminster, MD Life Plan Community
At Carroll Lutheran Village, we’ve built a community where security, independence, social connection and whole-person wellness come together in a place that feels like home—and where folks look out for one another.
Download our Senior Living Options Guide to find the perfect fit for your next chapter. To learn more about our beautiful 100-acre campus, call 410-453-1655.
