Senior scams and dishonest behavior are nothing new and have been around since humans have coexisted. However, technology has changed the speed at which bad actors create new scams and made their methods more sophisticated and seemingly credible.
At their core, scammers are almost always interested in stealing:
- Money. Criminals create elaborate stories and ploys to convince an unsuspecting person to wire a large sum of money, purchase gift cards or authorize other financial transactions.
- Property or other assets. Real estate scams are becoming increasingly common. Home title theft, for example, happens when property ownership is illegally transferred without the legal owner’s consent.
- Personal identity. Criminals pose as seemingly legitimate entities – like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Social Security Administration – to convince victims (often older adults) to provide key identity information like their Social Security numbers, birth dates, or account numbers. From there, thieves can open fraudulent accounts or access the victim’s existing accounts.
It’s wise for everyone, especially older Americans, to stay vigilant about protecting their hard-earned savings and assets from fraud.
Top Senior Scams to Watch for in 2026
Phone Scams. Telephone calls continue to be a method of reaching senior citizens for the purposes of fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers may impersonate an entity familiar to the victim, like a public utility, and convince him or her that they haven’t paid a bill on time and the lights or water will be shut of—often during extreme heat or cold. The caller may reference the senior’s address, use official-sounding language or spoof a legitimate utility phone number. Victims are pressured to make instant payment via gift cards, wire transfer or mobile payment apps—methods legitimate utility companies do not use.
In other cases, scammers pretend that a loved one is in danger and needs funds or bailing out. The fraudster then gives instructions on how to send money to rectify the situation. Frighteningly, Artificial Intelligence and other technologies can impersonate someone’s voice or likeness.
Email or Text Scams. Thieves are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in how they create emails or texts that look legitimate. These suspicious messages will usually contain links or attachments that send the recipient down a path of providing personal information. Messages also may attempt to install viruses that can steal personal data on a device.
A phishing (email) or smishing (phone text) message might, for example, include a notification about a package delivery or mention “Delivery Failure Notification.”
In-Person Scams. Senior scams perpetuated by people going door-to-door continue to occur. Fake contractors may use high-pressure sales tactics to convince the homeowner that repairs are urgently needed. After convincing the victim to act immediately and pay money upfront, the “contractor” disappears. This type of scam is common following natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes.
Recognizing and Thwarting Senior Scams
It’s important to remember certain principles when it comes to recognizing and thwarting any scam. Remember:
- Reputable businesses and entities will never ask for personal identifying information over the phone. They also will never ask that payments be made using gift cards.
- Scammers try to create a sense of fear and urgency. However, there’s almost never a need to act immediately on anything. Security experts advise pausing and slowing down a response when faced with a seemingly urgent request for money or action. It’s okay to hang up or postpone a reply, even if a matter seems legitimate.
- If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Investment schemes and romance scams often lure victims by creating trust before proposing they send money or invest in phony enterprises.
Strategies for Keeping Older Adults Safe from Scams
- Never provide personal information unless necessary. Remember that entities like the IRS or Social Security typically use official mail (not phone calls) to communicate official information.
- Use strong passwords to protect online accounts. Do not click on links or download attachments from unsolicited emails, even if it seems to be from a trusted source.
- Remember: if someone called you to solicit personal information, it’s likely a scam. Hang up and call the company back to verify that action is needed.
- Monitor accounts and credit reports closely. Double check bank and credit card statements regularly for unauthorized transactions. Keep an eye on credit reports.
- Sign up for fraud alerts. Most banks are now offering fraud prevention options to account holders, and the IRS offers Identity Protection PINs (IP PINs) to help prevent misuse of Social Security numbers.
Managing finances and staying on top of scams can feel especially overwhelming to an older person, so it’s important for him or her to enlist the help of trusted family members, friends, and others from his or her support system, including home care providers. Kadan Homecare prioritizes the safety of our clients, and our highly trained caregivers can assist in monitoring the wellbeing of seniors, including being alert to suspicious activity, signs of stress or confusion, or evidence that the senior has been defrauded.
To learn more about Kadan’s award winning in-home care programs, please contact us for a complimentary in-home consultation by calling 770-396-8997 or emailing info@kadan.org.