In this article:
Identity theft and fraud protection for your finances, personal info, and devices.
How Can Seniors Stay Safe Online?
Con artists use the anonymity of the internet to trick vulnerable people into giving up money, passwords, and sensitive personal details. More than ever, these scammers are targeting older Americans with their schemes.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the FBI [* *]:
Americans aged 60 and above lose more to fraud than any other age group — with combined losses of $3.4 billion in 2023 alone.
Whether you’re looking to protect yourself or an older loved one from online scams, fraud, and identity theft, it pays to know the latest online safety tips and tools.
What Are the Most Common Threats Facing Seniors Online?
Seniors are prime targets for online scammers who assume older Americans may be more trusting and less tech-savvy — and, therefore, more likely to fall for pressure and fear tactics.
Plus, many older Americans have built up considerable personal wealth in the form of retirement funds, property deeds, and family businesses — and are less likely to report the fraud out of fear of losing their independence [*].
For example, in September 2023, the FBI warned about a fast-growing type of fraud known as the “Phantom Hacker” scam. In this elaborate con, fraudsters impersonate tech support agents, bank representatives, and government officials to lure older victims into transferring their life savings [*].
When it comes to online scams targeting seniors, most fall into a few common categories:
- Tech support scams. Fraudsters use fake pop-ups, emails, or even phone calls to try and make victims believe their devices are infected with viruses. These tactics may pressure older victims into giving up remote access and passwords, or sending money to “fix” the situation.
- Phone and email phishing attacks. Scammers pretend to be from well-known organizations — like a bank or the IRS — to coerce their targets into sharing personal and financial information. Through convincing emails or urgent phone calls, phishing scams trick older internet users into disclosing sensitive details like their Social Security numbers (SSNs) or credit card numbers.
- Imposter scams. These scams involve criminals pretending to be someone the target trusts, like a family member or a lawyer. In the grandparent scam, con artists use emotional connections and scare tactics to fool a victim into believing their grandchild needs money to get out of serious legal trouble.
- Account takeovers. Fraudsters use stolen or leaked passwords to seize control of online accounts, including email or social media. If crooks access financial accounts, they could make unauthorized purchases or withdrawals.
- Malware and other viruses. Harmful software is secretly installed on older adults' devices, putting their personal data at risk. Malicious programs can track keystrokes, access files, and even take over cameras.
- Romance scams. Scammers exploit lonely older Americans by creating fake online profiles on dating platforms and social networking sites. As they build a romantic relationship online, they gain the victim’s trust before asking for money or an investment in some “lucrative opportunity” like a cryptocurrency or business venture.
- Prize and lottery scams. Older Americans are told they've won a grand prize or lottery via mail, phone, or email. But to claim their prizes, they must pay processing fees or taxes. The prizes don’t exist, so victims lose their money, get nothing in return, and potentially expose their banking details.
The bottom line: While younger Americans are actually more likely to fall for scams than older people, elderly Americans typically lose more — making them prime targets for online scammers [*].
5 Online Safety Tips for Seniors
Protecting yourself and loved ones against online scams doesn’t have to be difficult. With a few proactive security steps, you can make yourself a much less susceptible target.
Here are five of the most important internet safety tips for seniors:
1. Know the warning signs of an imposter scam
Imposter scams were the number one scam reported to the FTC in 2023 [*]. Older Americans are especially vulnerable targets, as they may be less skeptical of people who call or contact them — especially if the fraudster pretends to be from a government agency or well-known company.
Many people react without thinking, which could expose their personally identifiable information (PII). Before responding, it’s important to look for warning signs of an imposter scam.
What to look out for:
- Unsolicited contact. Legitimate government organizations and banks won’t phone or email you without your consent. If you receive communications from anyone claiming to represent your bank or an official government agency, tread carefully.
- Pressure to act. Fraudsters often create stories about critical problems with your online accounts. By stirring up a sense of urgency, scammers hope to coerce you into making quick decisions before you figure out it’s a scam.
- Threats of jail time or losing money. To add to the urgency, con artists might claim that you will lose money or even face legal troubles with the IRS or local law enforcement. No reputable organization will say things like this to their customers.
Pro tip: If you see any of the signs above, slow down and make sure you’re dealing with a legitimate representative before acting. Take notes on what they’re saying, and then contact the agency or company directly to confirm the information.
2. Use strong and unique passwords for every account
If hackers know your login credentials, they could gain access and seize control of your bank account, email address, social media pages, or online shopping accounts. Weak, repeated, or easily-guessed passwords can put your identity and finances at risk.
Here are some best practices for using stronger passwords:
- Make it unique. Credential stuffing or brute force attacks can compromise multiple accounts that share the same password. Make sure each of your accounts has a different password in order to stop fraudsters from taking over your entire digital life in one fell swoop.
- Be unpredictable. You’ll be safer if you create long combinations of numbers, letters, and characters. Stay clear of common keyboard patterns like “qwerty” or easy-to-guess passwords such as birthdays or street addresses.
- Use a password manager. Password managers encrypt all of your login credentials, and autofill your passwords on each site — saving you the trouble of remembering this information. Creating and storing unique, complex passwords for every account is much easier when you have a dedicated application to keep them safe.
3. Don’t click on links or respond to unsolicited messages
Phishing is the most common cybercrime, with approximately 3.4 billion spam emails sent daily [*].
The goal of phishing is to trick you into following bogus links or calling phone numbers that put you in direct conversations with professional con artists. Remember, you only compromise your online security when you engage with these imposters.
Here are the warning signs of phishing:
- Unknown senders or look-alike email addresses. Fraudsters use suspicious-looking copycat email addresses or “From” names that don’t match with the organization they claim to represent. For example, you might get an email from info@Amazon.xyz or bankofamereca@gmail.com.
- Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Legitimate companies employ professional writers who check for errors in their communications. If you spot typos or weird formatting in an email, text message, or direct message, consider this a red flag.
- Untrustworthy links or attachments. Clicking on anything (words, photos, links, etc.) in a phishing email could initiate a malware download on your device or direct you to an unsecured website on which cybercriminals attempt to get your sensitive data, such as your online banking details.
💡 Related: Do Scammers Have Your Email Address? Do This! →
4. Take advantage of device and account privacy settings
In 2023, a 26-year-old man was jailed for eight years for stealing over $300,000 from victims by hacking into their iPhones [*]. Aaron Johnson befriended young men at bars and found out their device passcodes before taking their devices and raiding their mobile banking apps.
If you or older relatives don’t have tight security settings in place on your iOS or Android smartphones, it’s best to remedy this before it’s too late.
How to secure your mobile devices and online accounts:
- Use biometric screen locks. Someone could easily find out your passcode and gain access to your device when you’re not around — including your family members. With a fingerprint scan or facial recognition, you can reduce the risk of identity theft.
- Tighten privacy settings on apps. Some apps may collect more sensitive information than you realize, putting your accounts at risk. Go into your device’s privacy settings (Privacy & Security on iOS, or Security & Privacy on most Android devices) and limit the information apps can collect and share.
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA). You should set up two (or more) verification factors for critical processes like email account logins, app downloads, and banking transfers. These measures can stop unauthorized individuals from exploiting you.
5. Use an ad blocker, and ignore pop-up warnings claiming that you’ve been hacked
Hackers use bogus pop-up ads to scare victims into thinking their devices contain viruses. If you click on the pop-up, you may accidentally download a malicious program. You can browse safely without intrusive ads or malicious pop-ups when you use ad-blocking browser extensions or anti-track tools.
What to do:
- Install an ad blocker. These simple applications alert you to intrusive site trackers and automatically block any attempts to collect your personal information online.
- Choose a privacy-focused browser. While many advertisers use tracking to personalize your online experience, you might prefer to retain your privacy. Some of the best privacy-focused browsers include Brave, Mozilla Firefox, and the private search engine DuckDuckGo.
- Scan for malware regularly. Antivirus software can help you find and eliminate any suspicious or threatening programs that could corrupt or steal your information, including spyware or ransomware.
💡Related: How To Protect Yourself From Identity Theft in 2024 →
Were You or an Older Family Member Scammed Online? Do This!
If you or your elderly family members are at risk, you must act quickly to stop thieves from emptying your financial accounts or ruining your credit with identity fraud.
Take these 11 steps if you or someone you know was scammed online:
Stop paying money to the scammers
The first thing you need to do is cut off all financial transfers. If there are wire transfers in progress, try canceling or recalling these transactions.
Don’t send anything else to the fraudsters, regardless of what they say or how they try to pressure you. Also, never send money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, as it is almost impossible to retrieve funds through these payment methods.
Contact your bank, and cancel compromised accounts.
It’s crucial to notify financial institutions of potential identity fraud as soon as possible. Call your bank or credit card issuer to cancel your cards — you can order replacement cards and PINs and have them sent to a secure address. Also, it’s a good idea to place a fraud alert on your account.
Freeze your credit with all three bureaus
You can prevent criminals from obtaining loans or accounts in your name by freezing your credit. This temporary security measure is easy to put in place, but you need to call each of the three credit bureaus individually — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion:
Secure your online accounts
After your PII or accounts have been exposed, you should make account security a top priority. You can help your parents or grandparents quickly create new, strong passwords for every account and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) with an authenticator app.
Collect evidence, and then break off contact
Before blocking any ongoing communications with the fraudster, take time to collect evidence, such as screenshots of emails, WhatsApp messages, and texts. Gather the proof alongside your notes, and keep a hard copy for your own records.
Review your accounts for signs of fraud
You can dispute any fraudulent transactions with your bank; but first, you’ll need the evidence. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to order free copies of your credit files from each of the three reporting agencies. Take the time to examine your credit reports, bank statements, and credit card statements for signs of fraud.
Report the fraud to the FTC and other relevant authorities
An official FTC report can help you prove that you’ve been the victim of identity theft, making it easier to dispute fraudulent transactions and close accounts. File a report online at IdentityTheft.gov to receive your identity theft affidavit along with a personalized recovery plan.
File a police report
Elder financial abuse can involve other crimes such as theft, forgery, or money laundering. Speak with a fraud officer in person, or call your local police department’s non-emergency line to report the crime. The police will need time to investigate, but your report may help them recover stolen funds and prevent other senior citizens from falling victim.
Dispute fraudulent charges, and close accounts
If you spot suspicious transactions on your statements, call the impacted vendors to explain that you are the victim of fraud. You can provide your FTC affidavit and police report as proof.
Scan your devices for malware
If you were scammed online, hackers could still be monitoring your devices. Use a reliable antivirus program to scan all devices — from home laptops to tablets and smartphones — so you can isolate and remove threats.
Browse with a virtual private network (VPN)
Oftentimes, the existing firewalls and cybersecurity settings on public Wi-Fi — or even on your home network — may not be enough to keep you safe. A VPN is a security software that encrypts your data, preventing hackers from spying on your browsing activity. This is an important means of protection, especially when you conduct any activities that could expose sensitive financial details, like online banking or shopping.
💡Related: Here's How To Know If Your Identity Has Been Stolen →
Can You Get Your Money Back After Being Scammed?
These online safety tips for seniors are preventive — but what happens if you've already been scammed? What to do next depends on how the scam happened, and, more specifically, how you sent money to the fraudster.
Here’s a breakdown of what to do, depending on how you paid a scammer:
What To Do If You Suspect Elder Financial Abuse
If your relative has been the victim of a senior scam, it's a delicate issue. Many older people may feel vulnerable in this situation, so it's essential to be empathetic and supportive.
That said, reporting the crime as soon as possible is crucial. The faster you get help from law enforcement, the sooner you can bring a stop to the financial abuse — and the better chance you have of recovering lost funds.
You can help guide grandparents or older relatives through the steps discussed above — like canceling their cards, freezing their credit, and filing reports with the FTC and police.
Beyond that, consider taking these steps to report elder financial abuse:
- Report to Adult Protective Services (APS) by using a local APS.
- If you intend to prosecute the abuser, report the incident to your local District Attorney's office.
- Report mail scams to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) at USPIS.gov/report.
- File an online report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
For issues with financial caregivers:
- If you suspect the misuse of Social Security benefits, contact your local Social Security office or call 800-772-1213.
- Contact the VA if you suspect misuse of veteran benefits.
- If you suspect that a court-appointed guardian is misusing a senior's money or property, contact that specific court.
💡Related: The Best Identity Theft Protection for Seniors: 7 Options →
The Bottom Line: Fraudsters Target Older Americans at an Alarming Rate
Scammers target everyone — young and old. But statistics tell a scary story when it comes to older Americans, who are more likely to lose money (and greater amounts of money) to fraud than younger people [*].
While following these online safety tips is a good start, it’s nearly impossible to avoid all scams and fraud attempts.
For peace of mind, signing up for a dedicated digital security service offers the best way to combat elder fraud.
Identity Guard protects your accounts, finances, and devices against identity thieves and online scammers. Even if fraudsters get your data or money, Identity Guard’s ID theft insurance coverage and 24/7 U.S.-based fraud resolution experts provide you with the support you need to recover quickly.
