Why seniors are often targeted
Seniors may be more trusting, polite and less familiar with modern fraud methods. Scammers try to use emotions such as fear or urgency to convince them to send money or share sensitive information.
Common scam scenarios
- A fake relative asking for emergency financial help.
- Someone pretending to be from a bank who claims that money must be moved to a safe account.
- Calls that demand payment of supposed fines or unpaid bills.
How to talk about phone safety with your family
- Explain that it is always acceptable to end a suspicious call.
- Agree on a simple rule that no money transfers will be done without speaking with a trusted family member first.
- Show them how to recognise official phone numbers of banks and authorities.
Practical protection tips
- Use call blocking features or apps to limit unknown and foreign numbers.
- Save important contacts with clear names so they are easy to recognise.
- Regularly discuss new types of scams that appear in the news.
With good communication and a few simple rules you can significantly reduce the risk that your parents or grandparents will fall victim to a phone scam.