What to Do If a Senior Falls for a Scam

Discovering that your parent or grandparent has been the victim of a scam is distressing for everyone involved. The senior may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or afraid to tell anyone. The family may feel frustrated or helpless.

The most important thing to remember is that scams are designed by professionals to deceive people. Falling for one is not a sign of weakness or declining ability. It happens to people of every age, every day.

Here's what to do if it happens to someone you love.

Step 1: Stay Calm and Be Supportive

Before anything else, manage your own emotional response. Reacting with anger or frustration — even if it comes from a place of concern — can cause the senior to shut down, hide the problem, or avoid asking for help in the future.

What to say:

• "I'm glad you told me. We'll figure this out together."
• "This isn't your fault. These scammers are very good at what they do."
• "You did the right thing by telling me."

What not to say:

• "How could you fall for that?"
• "I told you to be careful."
• "You should have known better."

The way you respond in this moment determines whether they'll come to you next time.

Step 2: Determine What Information Was Compromised

Sit down together and piece together what happened. Try to understand:

• What did they share? Bank account numbers, credit card numbers, Social Security number, passwords, Medicare information?
• How did they pay? Wire transfer, gift cards, credit card, debit card, cash, cryptocurrency?
• When did it happen? The sooner you act, the better the chance of recovery.
• Who contacted them? Phone call, email, text message, in-person visit?

Write everything down. You'll need these details for reports.

Step 3: Secure Financial Accounts

Based on what was compromised, take immediate action:

If bank or credit card information was shared:

• Call the bank or credit card company immediately. Most have 24/7 fraud departments.
• Request a freeze on the affected accounts.
• Dispute any unauthorized charges.

If a wire transfer was made:

• Contact the bank that initiated the transfer immediately. Wire transfers can sometimes be reversed if caught quickly.

If gift cards were purchased:

• Contact the gift card company (Amazon, Apple, Google, etc.) with the card numbers. Some companies can freeze the funds if the cards haven't been redeemed yet.

If Social Security number was shared:

• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with all three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Monitor credit reports for unauthorized accounts.
• Consider signing up for identity theft protection.

If Medicare number was shared:

• Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to report the fraud.
• Monitor Medicare statements for unauthorized claims.

Step 4: Change Passwords

If any online accounts may have been compromised, change passwords immediately. Prioritize:

1. Email accounts (these are the gateway to resetting other passwords)
2. Banking and financial accounts
3. Any account that uses the same password as one that was compromised

Use strong, unique passwords for each account. If this feels overwhelming, SafeLineCare can walk your parent through the process step by step.

Step 5: Report the Scam

Reporting helps law enforcement track scam patterns and sometimes leads to recovery of lost funds.

• FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov (for online scams)
• Local police: File a police report, especially if the loss is significant. You may need the report number for insurance or bank claims.
• State Attorney General: Most states have a consumer protection division that tracks fraud.
• AARP Fraud Helpline: 1-877-908-3360 (free resource for anyone, not just AARP members)

Step 6: Monitor for Follow-Up Scams

Once a senior has been scammed, their contact information often ends up on "sucker lists" that are sold to other scammers. Be prepared for an increase in suspicious calls, emails, and texts in the weeks following the incident.

Common follow-up scams include:

• Recovery scams. Someone calls claiming they can recover the lost money — for a fee. This is always a scam.
• Government impersonation. A caller claims to be from a fraud department investigating the scam and needs personal information to "help."
• Repeat targeting. Scammers may try the same approach again, knowing the victim was receptive before.

Help the senior recognize that these follow-up contacts are part of the same problem, not a solution.

Step 7: Put Protections in Place

After dealing with the immediate crisis, take steps to prevent future incidents:

• Set up call blocking on their phone to reduce robocalls.
• Enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.
• Establish a check-in system. Ask them to call you (or SafeLineCare) before making any financial decisions based on an unsolicited contact.
• Simplify their technology. Sometimes reducing the number of accounts, apps, and devices helps reduce exposure.

The Emotional Aftermath

Financial loss is only part of the damage. Many seniors experience:

• Shame and embarrassment about being deceived
• Fear of it happening again
• Loss of confidence in their own judgment
• Social withdrawal to avoid talking about it
• Anxiety around phone calls, emails, or technology in general

These feelings are normal and valid. Give them time, but also watch for signs that the emotional impact is becoming overwhelming. If a scam has caused significant distress, consider connecting them with a counselor or support group.

You Don't Have to Handle This Alone

If your parent has been scammed and you're not sure where to start, or if you simply want someone who can help them navigate technology more safely going forward, SafeLineCare is here. Our team provides patient, step-by-step support for exactly these kinds of situations — from changing passwords to screening suspicious calls to simply being a trusted voice on the other end of the line.