Fraud Against Seniors: Tips to Stay Safe

11.10.2025 | Category: Health & Aging

Estimated read time: ~9 minutes

Summary: Billions of dollars are lost each year to fraud against seniors. This article will examine why older adults are particularly vulnerable, highlight common scams, and offer practical steps to help prevent them.

Fraud is an ongoing threat that seniors face. Seniors are common targets of online and telephone fraud, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Fraudulent incidents have accelerated since the coronavirus pandemic. In 2024, older Americans lost an estimated $4.8 billion to scammers, according to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).¹

Most fraud cases don’t end well. For example, a 66-year-old woman from Los Angeles was duped out of over $80,000 by scammers who engaged her in a bogus “relationship” with a soap opera celebrity, using fake AI-generated videos.²

In another case, Florida authorities arrested six people in 2024 for running a grandparent scam that stole almost $250,000 from several seniors. In this scam, fraudsters told victims that their grandchild had been arrested for hitting a pregnant woman with a car. They then claimed the grandchild needed urgent bail money. One victim paid the scammers more than $54,000.³

Scammers continue to target seniors with increasingly deceptive and emotionally manipulative tactics. These schemes have resulted in significant financial losses, underscoring the urgent need for awareness and prevention.

Why seniors are prime targets for fraud

Seniors are often prime targets for fraud because many have built up their retirement savings and are in a good financial position. They can also be more trusting of strangers and less familiar with digital technology, making them more vulnerable to online scams, phishing emails or fake websites designed to steal personal information.

Seniors are often more vulnerable to loneliness or social isolation, which can make them easier targets for scams that exploit their trust. Scammers often play on a senior’s emotions, using fear, guilt or even love in romance fraud or “grandparent” scams.

Common scams targeting older adults

Scammers often prey on older adults with schemes that seem urgent or too good to be true. These tactics are designed to exploit trust and cause financial harm. Here are some of the most reported scams used to defraud seniors:

Lottery and prize scams

Lottery scams happen when scammers call claiming you’ve won a substantial lottery or cash prize, then demand upfront payment for supposed taxes or processing fees before you can collect your winnings. A particularly dangerous one is the Jamaican lottery scam in which callers can become threatening.

Tech support and government impersonation

In computer tech support scams, someone poses as a tech support person and claims there is an issue with your computer. The scammers’ objective is to access your computer and steal personal information while pretending to provide technical support or computer repair services.

Scammers may also impersonate government officials to obtain your personal information. For example, callers posing as Social Security Administration agents may ask you to provide personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, bank account numbers or details about your Social Security benefits.

Romance, investment and cryptocurrency scams

In romance scams, single seniors may be contacted by potential paramours via phone, text or email. The scammer engages the lonely senior in online or telephone relationships, sometimes for months. After they build trust with their victims, the con artist inevitably asks for money for a bogus investment or cryptocurrency scam. Once they get the money, they disappear.

Grandparent scam

In this type of scam, fraudsters impersonate a grandchild or claim to be someone helping the grandchild, then contact the grandparent requesting urgent money for supposed emergencies like bail, medical bills, or travel expenses from abroad. Scammers exploit victims’ emotions and trick grandparents into wiring money to them.

Spoofing scams

Scam artists increasingly fool people through “spoofing,” in which the caller falsifies the information that shows up on the target’s caller ID display to disguise their identity. These scam calls can appear to be from a local number, or even from a company or a government agency that you may already know and trust. To stay safe online, seniors should be aware that scammers often spoof email addresses to appear legitimate.

Insurance scams

Most insurance-related scams are attempts to get personal information in order to steal a person’s identity. Be aware of the following:

Emails that appear to be from your life insurance company and ask for personal information. Do not reply to these emails. Instead, call your insurance company and report the email.
Phony life insurance websites. These sites typically promote insurance rates that are much lower than the norm, or make it easy to sign up with no health underwriting. Do not provide personal information on these sites or buy a policy without verifying the company.
If you’re unsure whether a website, company, or agent is legitimate, contact your state’s insurance department. They can confirm whether the company exists and is authorized to operate in your area.

Fraud prevention for seniors through proactive measures

Here are some tips for seniors to avoid online and telephone fraud:

Never give your credit card, banking, Social Security, Medicare or other personal information over the phone to strangers.
Don’t click on links or download files from unexpected emails, even if the email address looks like it’s from a company or person you recognize. The same goes for text messages and unfamiliar websites.
Make sure all computer antivirus software, security software and malware protections are up to date.
Beware of offers for free travel.
Don’t respond to calls or texts from unknown phone numbers or those that appear suspicious.

For effective scam prevention for seniors, here are some suspicious signs loved ones should look out for:

Recent changes in a senior’s bank account, including unusual withdrawals, new names added to the account and the sudden use of the senior’s ATM or credit card.
The senior suddenly appearing confused, unkempt or afraid.
Bills not being paid despite adequate financial resources.
Piled-up magazine subscriptions, sweepstakes mailings and “free” gifts that indicate the senior could be on “sucker lists” containing personal information sold to scammers.

Tools and resources to help seniors stay safe

The rising number of scams against seniors has prompted state and federal authorities to intensify investigations into attempted fraud and strengthen prevention efforts. Now, an abundance of resources is available to consumers to learn how to protect themselves. The FTC website is an invaluable source for tips and information on how to spot fraud, avoid fraud and report it.

Building awareness of fraud against seniors

Fraud against seniors is a serious and growing issue. However, with awareness and the right precautions, older adults can protect themselves and their hard-earned savings. Seniors can reduce their risk of becoming victims of scams by knowing when to spot common scams, practicing safe habits online and over the phone and leaning on trusted family and friends for help.

Mutual of Omaha has long been a trusted resource for seniors, offering financial, retirement and insurance solutions and resources designed with their safety and security in mind. Contact a financial professional today to explore personalized options that can help protect your future and provide some peace of mind.

Frequently asked questions

What signs indicate a senior is being scammed?

A key sign that you are being scammed is if a caller asks for personal information such as your Social Security number or credit card number. Other red flags include high-pressure tactics to act quickly, requests for payment in gift cards or wire transfers or offers that sound too good to be true. Seniors should also be cautious if someone refuses to provide written information, avoids direct answers or discourages you from talking to family or financial advisors before making a decision.

What should a senior do if they suspect they’ve been scammed?

If you think you’re being scammed, the first step is to stop all contact with the suspected scammer. Immediately report the incident to your bank or credit card company, especially if you’ve shared personal information (i.e., your Social Security number, credit card or bank information) or given the scammers money. It’s also important to file a report with the FTC and possibly your local law enforcement. You may also want to talk to a trusted family member for support.

Are there tools or services designed specifically to protect seniors from scams?

Yes, several tools and services can help protect seniors from scams. Call-blocking apps and devices can filter out known scam numbers. Identity theft protection services monitor your personal information for suspicious activity. Many banks also offer account alerts that notify you of unusual transactions. Non-profit organizations and government agencies provide educational programs and hotlines where you can report scams and get information on how to stay safe.

Disclosures:

Registered Representatives offer securities through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representatives offer advisory services through Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. Mutual of Omaha Advisors is a division of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company.

All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful.

Mutual of Omaha and its representatives do not provide tax and/or legal advice, and the information provided herein is general in nature and should not be considered tax and/or legal advice.

Not all Mutual of Omaha agents are registered representatives or financial advisors.

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