VoiceScam.com Got a call? Start hereGot a call?

Printed from voicescam.com/protect/protect-elderly-parents/ · Updated 23 October 2026

How to protect elderly parents from voice scams

An adult daughter and her elderly father looking at a phone together on a sofa

Talk to your parents before a scam call happens: agree a family safe word, a call-back rule, and who they ring if something feels wrong. Then make the phone and the bank do some of the work with call blocking, trusted contacts and payment alerts.

This week

  1. Have a short, calm conversation about how these calls work.
  2. Agree a family safe word and a call-back rule.
  3. Put key numbers by the phone in large print.
  4. Set up call blocking and bank alerts together.

Start with the conversation

Lead with respect, not worry. Scams fool careful people of every age. Some ways to open:

  • "I read that scammers can copy voices now. Can we agree a plan in case someone pretends to be me?"
  • "If anyone ever calls asking for money, even if it sounds like me, I want you to hang up and ring me. I promise I won't mind."
  • "Would you ring me if a call ever worried you? Any time."

A five-step plan

  1. Agree a safe word. See how to set up a family safe word.
  2. Agree a call-back rule. No money moves on an unexpected call without calling back first.
  3. Name a trusted person to ring. Someone who will always pick up or call back quickly.
  4. Write down the key numbers. Family, the bank and the doctor, by the phone.
  5. Check in after a few weeks. Ask whether they have had any strange calls.

Set up the phone

  • Turn on call blocking or "silence unknown callers".
  • Save family numbers with clear names and photos.
  • Ask the phone company about scam call filtering.
  • Consider a call blocker device for a landline.

Set up the bank

  • Ask the bank about adding a trusted contact.
  • Turn on alerts for large payments and new payees.
  • Ask about lowering daily transfer limits.
  • Ask whether the bank offers extra support for older or vulnerable customers.

Warning signs a parent is being targeted

  • New secrecy about money or reluctance to talk about calls.
  • Gift card purchases or unusual cash withdrawals.
  • Many calls from unknown numbers. Scammers share lists of people who answer.
  • Couriers or strangers at the door to collect something.
  • Stress or fear after phone calls. Ask gently what happened.

If it has already happened

Lead with kindness. Shame stops people reporting and makes repeat scams more likely. In 2025, people aged 60 and over reported losing more than $7.7 billion to the FBI's internet crime centre (IC3, 2026). Your parent is far from alone.

Then follow what to do if you were scammed together.

Keep the plan fresh

A plan agreed once can fade. Small, regular check-ins keep it ready for the day it is needed.

  • Run a gentle practice. Tell them in advance, then call and ask for help so they can practise asking for the word and calling you back.
  • Bring the plan up at family gatherings, so it feels normal and shared.
  • Ask which calls they have hung up on lately, and praise them for it.
  • Keep the list of key numbers by the phone up to date.
  • If they get a new phone, set up call blocking and saved contacts together.
  • Remind them that hanging up is never rude. A real relative or bank will understand and call back.

If they worry about spotting a fake, share these simple clues that a voice may be fake. If they use their voice to get into their bank account by phone, read what to ask the bank about voice ID. You will find more in our family protection guides.

Sources

  1. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, elder fraud leaflet: "IC3 Elder Fraud in 2025". Published 2026. Checked 23 October 2026.
  2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, public service announcement: "Criminals use generative artificial intelligence to facilitate financial fraud". Published 3 December 2024. Checked 23 October 2026.
  3. Federal Trade Commission, consumer alert: "Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes". Published 20 March 2023. Checked 23 October 2026.

Common questions

How do I bring it up without upsetting them?

Frame it as a family plan, not a worry about them. Mention that scammers target everyone, and that you want the same rule for yourself.

What if they have already sent money?

Help them call their bank straight away, then report it. Reassure them that it is the scammer's fault, not theirs.

Should I take over their finances?

Not without their agreement. Small steps like alerts, a trusted contact and lower limits protect them without taking away control.

What if they have memory problems?

Keep the plan simple: one rule, one number to ring. Talk to their bank and doctor about extra support, and consider legal arrangements such as power of attorney.

Related reading