Tips to Help Protect Older Adults from Scams

Older adults continue to be frequent targets for scammers, who often attempt to exploit trust, financial stability, and established credit. While scams affect people of all ages, fraudsters often tailor their tactics toward seniors through impersonation, emotional manipulation, and high-pressure requests for money.

According to data from BBB Scam Tracker, scammers continue to adapt their strategies using phone calls, emails, text messages, and social media. Since 2015, BBB has received hundreds of thousands of scam reports, helping identify emerging trends and educate consumers about how to recognize and avoid fraud.

Financial grooming scams — where criminals build relationships with victims before asking for money — have become increasingly common and often lead to the largest financial losses. According to the BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report, these scams can involve romance, investment opportunities, or long-term impersonation tactics designed to gain a victim’s trust.

Unfortunately, not all fraud is committed by anonymous strangers online.

A recent East Texas case illustrates how financial exploitation can occur in unexpected ways. Authorities say a Tyler man was charged after allegedly stealing more than $17,000 from a woman’s bank account, including transactions which occurred before and after her death. Investigators reported dozens of suspicious withdrawals and cashier’s checks connected to the account.

While the estate was ultimately reimbursed, the case serves as a reminder that financial exploitation can occur even in situations involving individuals or institutions consumers believe they can trust.

BBB encourages families and caregivers to watch for these scams which frequently target seniors:

Impostor scams. Fraudsters pose as representatives from government agencies, banks, Medicare, or even family members. Victims are pressured to send money or share sensitive information immediately.

Sweepstakes and lottery scams. Victims are told they’ve won a prize but must first pay taxes or processing fees. Legitimate sweepstakes never require payment to claim winnings.

Investment and cryptocurrency scams. Scammers promise unusually high returns and attempt to rush victims into sending money before they have time to research the opportunity.

Tech support scams. Criminals claim a computer or device has been compromised and request remote

BBB recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of fraud:

• Take your time. Scammers often create a sense of urgency. Slow down and verify unexpected requests.
• Talk with someone you trust. Discuss financial decisions or suspicious contacts with family members or trusted advisors.
• Research before responding. Look up businesses, charities, and investment opportunities on BBB.org before sending money.
• Monitor financial accounts regularly. Review bank and credit card statements and report suspicious activity quickly.

Education remains one of the most effective tools for preventing fraud. Consumers who encounter suspicious activity are encouraged to report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Reports help warn others in the community and assist investigators in identifying emerging scams.

About BBB: Since 1912, BBB has been supporting businesses and consumers in its mission of advancing marketplace trust.  BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Most BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit bbb.org for more information. There are over 100 local, independent BBBs across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Central East Texas, which was founded in 1985 and serves 19 counties.