What To Do If a Senior You Love Is Targeted by a Scam

When a scam targets an older adult, time matters. Acting quickly can limit financial damage, increase the chances of recovering money, and help protect other seniors from the same scheme. Reporting might feel overwhelming in the moment, but there’s a clear path to follow.

Step 1: Make Sure the Senior Is Safe and Stop the Money Flow

Before making reports, stabilize the situation:

  • Stay calm and supportive. Shame keeps many seniors silent. Emphasize they are not at fault; scams are designed to be convincing.
  • Stop payments immediately.
    • Call the bank or credit union fraud department.
    • Contact credit card companies to dispute charges and request new cards.
    • If gift cards were used, call the card issuer listed on the back.
    • If a wire transfer was sent, contact the sending bank right away to request a recall.
  • Secure accounts. Change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and review recent activity for anything unfamiliar.

Step 2: Gather the Key Details

Good reporting depends on clear information. Collect:

  • Names, phone numbers, email addresses, and websites used by the scammer.
  • Screenshots or printouts of messages, emails, or fake websites.
  • Records of money sent: bank statements, receipts, gift card numbers, wire details, or check copies.
  • Dates and times of calls or contacts, and what was said or promised.

Keep everything in one folder. Do not delete emails or texts until all reports are complete.

Step 3: Report to Financial Institutions and Credit Bureaus

Report the scam to any institution involved:

  • Banks and credit card issuers: Ask for fraud review, transaction reversal where possible, and new account numbers.
  • Investment firms: Notify them of any suspicious transfers or account access.
  • Credit bureaus: Place a fraud alert or credit freeze on the senior’s credit file to reduce the risk of identity theft.

Check for new accounts opened without permission and dispute anything that isn’t legitimate.

Step 4: Report to Appropriate Government Agencies

Where you report depends on how the scam occurred and where you live, but in general:

  • Local law enforcement: File a police report, especially for any financial loss. This creates an official record that may help with banks, insurers, or future investigations.
  • State consumer protection or attorney general’s office: They track patterns and may take action against repeat offenders.
  • Postal authorities: If the scam involved mail, report it so they can investigate mail fraud.

If the scam took place online or by phone, also include those details in your reports so agencies can see wider patterns.

Step 5: Involve Adult Protective Services if Necessary

If you suspect ongoing exploitation, cognitive decline, or abuse by a caregiver, contact Adult Protective Services (APS) in the senior’s state or county. APS can:

  • Investigate financial exploitation.
  • Coordinate with law enforcement.
  • Connect the senior to social, legal, and financial support resources.

This is particularly important when the scammer is a family member, caregiver, or someone with access to accounts.

Step 6: Prevent Repeat Targeting

Scammers often come back to previous victims. Help the senior:

  • Add their number to do-not-call lists and use call-blocking tools.
  • Set up alerts on bank and credit card accounts.
  • Review common scam types together (grandparent scams, tech support scams, romance scams, government impostor calls).
  • Designate a trusted contact the senior can call before sending money or giving information.

Reporting a scam is more than paperwork. It’s a way to protect your loved one’s finances, dignity, and independence—and to make it harder for scammers to target other seniors in your community.