Scammers specifically target older adults — not because seniors are naive, but because they tend to be more polite, more trusting, and more likely to have savings worth stealing. Knowing what the most common scams look like is the single best protection against them.
Grandparent Scams
A caller claims to be a grandchild in trouble — arrested, in a car accident, stranded overseas — and urgently needs money sent right away. They may ask you not to tell other family members to avoid embarrassment.
The "grandchild" may sound convincing because scammers research social media and can even use audio manipulation to imitate a voice. The urgency is intentional — it is designed to make you act before you think.
What to do: Hang up and call your grandchild directly on the number you already have for them. Call another family member to verify. No legitimate emergency requires you to wire money or buy gift cards before speaking to anyone else.
Government Impersonation Scams
A caller claims to be from Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, or another federal agency. They say your benefits are being suspended, your Social Security number has been compromised, or you owe taxes and will be arrested if you do not pay immediately.
Key fact: Social Security and Medicare will never call you unsolicited to demand payment or threaten to suspend your benefits. The IRS sends letters through the mail — they do not call to demand immediate payment.
If you receive one of these calls, hang up. If you are worried, call the agency directly using the official number from their website.
Lottery and Prize Scams
You receive a letter, email, or call saying you have won a prize — but you need to pay a fee, taxes, or processing charge before the winnings can be released. Once you pay, the prize never arrives and the caller disappears.
You cannot win a lottery you never entered. Any "prize" that requires you to pay something first is a scam.
Romance Scams
A stranger contacts you online — on a social platform, a dating site, or even through email — and builds a relationship over days or weeks. They are warm, attentive, and interested. Then they ask for money: a medical emergency, a plane ticket to come visit you, a business opportunity.
Romance scams are among the most financially devastating because the trust built feels real. The person is entirely fictional, typically operated by organized fraud groups overseas.
Warning signs: They never video call, always have a reason they cannot meet, and eventually ask for money or gift cards.
Medicare and Health Insurance Fraud
Scammers call claiming to be from Medicare and offer a free item — a brace, a testing kit, a health device — in exchange for your Medicare number. Once they have it, they bill Medicare for expensive equipment you never received.
Medicare will never call you unsolicited to offer free equipment or ask for your Medicare number. Guard your Medicare card like a credit card and only give the number to providers you visit in person.
The Gift Card Payment Red Flag
Across almost every scam type, one signal is nearly universal: if someone asks you to pay using gift cards — iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Walmart — stop immediately. No legitimate business, government agency, or utility company accepts gift cards as payment. This is always a scam.
What to Do If Something Feels Wrong
- Hang up or close the email. You owe no one an explanation.
- Call a family member or trusted friend before doing anything.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Your report helps protect others.
You are not gullible for being targeted. These criminals are professional manipulators. The smartest people fall for well-designed scams, and reporting them is how we fight back.
Where to Learn More
- FTC Consumer Information — Scams — consumer.ftc.gov/scams Up-to-date information on current scam tactics and how to report them.
- AARP Fraud Watch Network — aarp.org/money/scams-fraud A free resource with a scam-tracking map, helpline, and current fraud alerts.
- Report Fraud to the FTC — reportfraud.ftc.gov The official federal portal for reporting scams — your report can help stop the same operation from reaching someone else.