Stay Online, Stay Safe: A Senior's Guide to Spotting Scams

Online scams targeting seniors are becoming more costly and convincing. Learn the warning signs of phishing, impersonation, tech support, investment, romance, and family emergency scams, plus simple steps older adults and caregivers can use to protect money and personal information.

A text from your bank says there is suspicious activity on your account.

An email says your Medicare information needs to be updated.

Someone claiming to be your grandson calls and says he needs money immediately.

A computer warning suddenly tells you to call "Microsoft support."

Any one of these situations can feel urgent and believable. That is exactly what scammers are counting on.

According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans over age 60 reported more than $7.7 billion in internet crime losses from more than 201,000 complaints.

Those numbers make one point very clear: knowing how to recognize online scams targeting seniors has become an important part of protecting your financial security.

Fortunately, you do not need to understand every new piece of technology to protect yourself. Many scams change their stories, but the warning signs are surprisingly similar.

Quick Facts About Senior Internet Scams

Reported losses among people over 60 in 2025: More than $7.7 billion

Complaints from people over 60: More than 201,000

Most frequently reported fraud among older victims: Phishing and spoofing

Largest reported loss category among older victims: Investment schemes

Best first response to a suspicious message: Stop, verify independently, and do not send money or information.

The FBI reported that investment schemes caused more than $3.5 billion in losses among older victims in 2025. Complaints involving cryptocurrency resulted in approximately $4.3 billion in reported losses among people over 60.

The Most Important Scam Warning Sign: Urgency

Scammers do not want you to have time to think.

They may tell you:

• Your bank account has been compromised.
• Your Social Security number is connected to a crime.
• Your computer has been hacked.
• A family member has been arrested.
• You owe money immediately.
• Your electricity will be shut off.
• You have won a prize that expires today.
• An investment opportunity is about to disappear.

The story changes.

The pressure does not.

Both the FBI and Federal Trade Commission warn that scammers frequently create urgency because they want people to act before checking whether the story is true.

If someone is pressuring you to send money, share information, or make an immediate decision, stop the conversation.

You can always verify the situation yourself.

1. Watch for Bank and Government Impersonation Scams

One of the most convincing scams begins with someone pretending to represent an organization you already trust.

They may already know your name, address, or other personal information.

That does not prove they are legitimate.

The FTC warns that government impersonators may contact people by phone, email, text, or social media and claim that money or personal information must be provided immediately. Government agencies will not unexpectedly contact you through these methods to demand money or personal financial information.

What Should You Do?

Do not use the phone number, email address, or link the person gives you.

Instead:

1. End the conversation.
2. Find the organization's official contact information yourself.
3. Call using a number you know is legitimate.
4. Ask whether there is actually a problem with your account.

Caller ID can also be manipulated, so a familiar name on your screen is not proof that the caller is genuine.

2. Be Careful With Unexpected Links

A phishing message tries to get you to click a link, open an attachment, or provide personal information.

It may look like a message from:

• Your bank
• Medicare
• A delivery company
• A streaming service
• Your email provider
• A retailer
• A government agency

The FBI reported that phishing and spoofing generated more than 48,000 complaints among people over 60 in 2025, making it the most frequently reported fraud type among older victims.

Verify It Yourself

If the message appears to come from your bank, open your bank's official app or type the bank's website into your browser yourself.

If the message claims to be from a company, contact the company using a number or website you already know is legitimate.

The FTC specifically recommends avoiding links in unexpected messages and independently contacting the business instead.

3. Never Pay a Stranger With Gift Cards

This rule can stop many scams immediately:

Gift cards are for gifts, not bills, fines, taxes, bail, government fees, or emergency payments.

A scammer might instruct you to purchase gift cards and then provide the numbers on the back.

They may claim the cards are needed to:

• Help a grandchild
• Pay a government fine
• Fix a computer
• Pay an overdue bill
• Claim a prize
• Protect a bank account
• Complete a purchase

Do not do it.

The FTC states that legitimate businesses and government agencies will not tell you to buy gift cards as a form of payment.

If someone tells you to stay on the phone while you drive to a store and purchase gift cards, end the call.

4. Be Suspicious of Tech Support Pop-Ups

You are browsing the internet when suddenly a large warning appears:

"Your computer is infected."

"Your bank information is at risk."

"Call Microsoft immediately."

It may look serious.

Do not call the number.

Tech support scams often attempt to convince victims that their computers or financial accounts are in danger. The scammer may then request remote access to the computer or demand payment for unnecessary services.

The FBI identifies tech support fraud as one of the costly fraud tactics affecting Americans.

Instead:

Close the browser window.

If you are concerned about the computer, contact a trusted computer professional or the manufacturer's official support service using contact information you find independently.

Never give remote access to your computer to someone who unexpectedly contacts you.

5. Slow Down Before Sending Money for an Investment

Investment scams can be especially costly.

In 2025, older Americans reported more than $3.5 billion in investment scheme losses, making investment fraud the largest source of reported losses among victims over 60.

Scammers may approach through:

• Social media
• Dating websites
• Text messages
• Messaging apps
• Online investment groups
• Fake financial websites

They may promise:

• Guaranteed returns
• Little or no risk
• Exclusive investment opportunities
• Cryptocurrency profits
• Special trading systems
• Inside information

Be especially careful when someone you met online starts giving you financial advice.

Do not transfer money simply because an investment website appears to show large profits. A website controlled by a scammer can display numbers that have no connection to actual investments.

Before investing, verify the person and company independently and consider speaking with a qualified financial professional.

6. Do Not Let a Family Emergency Stop You From Verifying

A caller says:

"Grandma, I'm in trouble."

They claim they were arrested, involved in an accident, or stranded somewhere.

They need money immediately.

They may also tell you not to contact their parents.

Stop.

Hang up and call your family member directly using the phone number you already have.

Modern technology can make impersonation more convincing. The FBI has warned that scammers are using artificial intelligence, including voice cloning, fake profiles, altered identification documents, and believable videos, as part of fraud schemes.

Hearing a familiar voice is no longer enough reason to send money without verification.

Create a Family Verification Plan

Families can agree on a simple procedure before an emergency happens.

For example:

If someone calls asking for emergency money, always contact another family member first.

You can also establish a private family question or phrase that can help verify someone's identity.

7. Be Careful With Online Romance Scams

Online relationships can begin innocently.

A person may spend weeks or months building trust before asking for money.

The explanation might involve:

• A medical emergency
• Travel costs
• Business trouble
• A frozen bank account
• Military deployment
• An investment opportunity
• An unexpected family crisis

The FBI lists romance scams among common fraud schemes targeting older adults.

A major warning sign is repeated financial requests from someone you have never met in person.

Never send money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, banking information, or account passwords to someone simply because you developed an online relationship with them.

Remember the Four Common Scam Signals

Many scams can be recognized using four simple questions.

Is There an Unexpected Contact?

You receive a call, email, text, social media message, or computer alert you were not expecting.

Is There a Problem or Prize?

The person says something terrible has happened or something wonderful is waiting for you.

Are You Being Pressured?

They insist you must act immediately.

Are They Telling You Exactly How to Pay?

They demand gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, or another unusual method.

The FTC identifies these patterns as common signs of scams.

When several appear together, stop communicating until you can independently verify the story.

Protect Your Online Accounts Before a Scam Happens

Scam prevention is not only about recognizing suspicious calls.

A few everyday habits can make your accounts harder to access.

Consider:

• Using a different password for important accounts
• Creating long, difficult-to-guess passwords
• Turning on multifactor authentication when available
• Keeping phones, tablets, and computers updated
• Using spam filters for unwanted calls and messages
• Reviewing bank and credit card statements regularly
• Avoiding financial transactions on unfamiliar public Wi-Fi networks
• Never sharing verification codes with an unexpected caller
• Talking with a trusted person before making a large unexpected payment

You do not have to become a technology expert.

The goal is simply to create more barriers between a scammer and your money.

What Should You Do If You Already Sent Money?

Act quickly.

Do not avoid asking for help because you feel embarrassed.

Scams are intentionally designed to manipulate people.

Take These Steps

Contact your financial institution immediately. Tell the bank, credit card company, payment service, or other financial institution what happened.

Contact the payment provider. If gift cards were involved, contact the gift card company and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or funds recovered. The FTC recommends keeping the card and receipt when possible.

Change compromised passwords. If you shared login information, update those passwords immediately.

Report the incident. The FBI encourages victims of internet crime to file a complaint with its Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov as soon as possible.

You can also report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Keep records of messages, phone numbers, email addresses, receipts, transaction information, dates, and other details connected to the incident.

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Email: [email protected]
Phone: 800-201-9989