Scams against older adults are not rare, and they are not small. In 2024, Americans age 60 and older reported losing about $2.4 billion to fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission — and because so many people are too embarrassed to report it, the true total is likely many times higher.
But here's what those numbers hide: the same handful of scams come up over and over. Once you know them by name, you can see them coming. This page walks through the ones hitting older adults hardest right now — what each one looks like, the detail that gives it away, and what to do.
Every scam below relies on the same warning signs: pressure, secrecy, and an unusual way to pay. If you haven't read it yet, How to Spot a Scam explains the seven signs that connect all of them.
1. The "family emergency" call (grandparent scam)
What it looks like: The phone rings. It's your grandchild — or so it seems — crying, in trouble, maybe in jail or in the hospital. They need money fast, and they beg you not to tell their parents.
The new twist: Scammers now use artificial intelligence to clone voices from a few seconds of audio pulled off social media. The voice on the phone can sound exactly like your loved one. In 2025 the FBI tracked AI-assisted scams for the first time and counted about $893 million in losses to them, with these voice-cloning "family in distress" calls among the fastest-growing.
The tell: Urgency, secrecy, and a demand for money through gift cards, wire transfer, or cash by courier. Real emergencies don't require you to keep them secret from the rest of the family.
What to do: Hang up and call your grandchild — or their parents — directly, on the number you already have. The "emergency" will evaporate. Better yet, agree on a family password now, a word only your real family knows, so you can verify any frantic call instantly.
2. The computer "tech support" pop-up
What it looks like: A loud warning fills your screen — sometimes with a siren sound — saying your computer is infected and you must call "Microsoft" or "Apple" right now. The number connects you to a friendly "technician" who wants to remote into your computer and, soon after, asks for payment or access to your bank.
The tell: Real companies do not put a phone number on a security warning and beg you to call. Microsoft and Apple will never call you, either. A genuine virus warning never asks you to phone anyone.
What to do: Don't call the number. Close the pop-up (or restart the computer if you can't). Never let a stranger take control of your device. Older adults lose far more to tech-support scams than younger people do — this one specifically targets you.
3. The government impersonator
What it looks like: A call, text, or email claiming to be from Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, or another agency. Your benefits are suspended. Your Social Security number has been "compromised." You owe back taxes and the police are on the way — unless you pay immediately.
The tell: Government agencies contact you by mail, not by surprise phone calls demanding instant payment. And no real agency accepts gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. The FTC is blunt about this: the government will never call to threaten you or demand money.
What to do: Hang up. If you're worried it might be real, look up the agency's official number yourself and call to check. Government impersonation is now one of the most reported scams in the country — you are not alone in getting these.
4. The fake bank or business "fraud alert"
What it looks like: A message — supposedly from your bank, or from Amazon, or another company you use — warns of a suspicious charge or a security problem. A helpful "fraud department" then explains that to protect your money, you need to move it: into a "secure account," into Bitcoin, or by handing cash to a courier they'll send over.
The tell: This is the single most financially devastating scam there is, and it hinges on one lie. No bank, company, or agency will ever tell you to move your money to keep it safe. That instruction, by itself, means it's a scam. The "safe account" belongs to the thief.
What to do: Hang up and call your bank using the number on your card or statement. Tell them exactly what happened. Banks see this constantly and will confirm in seconds that nothing is wrong.
5. The online romance (sweetheart) scam
What it looks like: Someone wonderful finds you — on Facebook, a dating site, or even a wrong-number text that turns friendly. Over weeks or months, the relationship deepens. They're warm, attentive, and always just unable to meet in person. Then come the money troubles: a medical bill, a stuck shipment, a business deal that needs a little help.
The tell: They never video-call or meet in person, the story always explains why, and eventually it always turns to money. Romance scammers are patient, and that patience is exactly what makes the heartbreak — and the financial loss — so deep.
What to do: Never send money or gifts to someone you haven't met in person, no matter how real the connection feels. Talk to a friend or family member about the relationship; an outside view often sees what a hopeful heart can't.
6. The investment or cryptocurrency scam
What it looks like: A tip on a "can't-lose" investment, often involving cryptocurrency, sometimes from a new online friend or a slick-looking website. Early on, a small "test" investment seems to grow nicely. So you put in more. When you try to withdraw, the money — and the person — are gone.
The tell: Promises of high returns with little or no risk. Pressure to invest more, quickly. Difficulty getting your money back out. The FTC reports that older adults now lose more money to investment scams than to any other kind, and that social media is the most common place these start.
What to do: Be deeply skeptical of any investment pitched through social media or a stranger. Real investing is never urgent and never guaranteed. Check with a licensed financial professional you found independently before moving a dollar.
7. The prize, sweepstakes, or lottery scam
What it looks like: Wonderful news — you've won! A lottery, a sweepstakes, a prize. There's just one catch: you need to pay "taxes" or "fees" up front to release your winnings.
The tell: You can't win a lottery you never entered, and a real prize never requires you to pay to collect it. The moment someone asks for money to give you money, it's a scam.
What to do: Don't pay anything. Don't share your bank details. Delete the message.
What they all have in common
Notice the pattern. Almost every scam above leans on the same three moves:
- Pressure — a reason you must act right now
- Secrecy — a reason not to check with anyone
- An untraceable payment — gift cards, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash
Spot any one of those three, and you've likely spotted a scam — no matter which story it's wrapped in.
You can stay a step ahead
The names change. New scams appear. But the underlying playbook almost never does — which is exactly why a simple, reliable framework beats trying to memorize every new trick. That's what Not Born Yesterday gives you: 10 plain-English Laws that work on any scam, old or brand-new, plus clear walkthroughs for setting up your phone, email, and accounts to shut scammers out before they reach you.