The Scams Targeting Seniors and Grieving Families (And How to Stop Them)
We live in a hyper-connected world, and our personal information is more exposed than most of us realize. Scammers don’t need much to get started. But here’s the good news: understanding how these scams work is one of the most effective ways to stop them, even if bad actors already have some of your information.
The numbers are significant.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, Americans aged 60 and older lost $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024 alone, a record high, with an average loss of $83,000 per victim. That figure has trended upward every year. Seniors and families navigating estate settlement are among the most frequently targeted groups.
Scammers don’t target seniors by accident. They follow a profile. Adults 65 and older control approximately 65% of total U.S. wealth, are more likely to be home during the day, and are often more trusting and less likely to report a crime. And certain life events, like the death of a spouse, moving, or settling an estate, create windows of vulnerability that scammers specifically watch for.
Below are the five scams most commonly targeting older adults and families, along with practical steps you can take right now to protect yourself and the people you care about.
The single best protective measure is open communication with trusted family members or friends. If something feels off, talk to someone before taking any action.
1. Tech Support Impostor Scams
One of the most common scams involves fraudsters posing as tech support representatives from well-known companies like Microsoft or Apple. They reach out by phone, pop-up warnings, or email, claiming your device has been compromised or that there is an urgent software problem requiring immediate attention. If you receive one of these messages, it is almost certainly a scam.
How to Protect Yourself
Hang up on unsolicited calls from anyone claiming to be tech support.
Never call a number from a pop-up warning. Visit the company’s official website directly and contact them from there.
Contact Apple, Microsoft, or the relevant company directly through their official website to verify whether any issue actually exists.
Never give remote access to your computer unless you personally initiated the support call with a verified source.
Never click on a pop-up warning. Legitimate companies do not use aggressive pop-up messages to solicit support.
Before making any payment or clicking any link, talk to a trusted friend or family member first.
2. Government Impersonation Scams
Scammers posing as IRS or Social Security Administration officials use fear and urgency to extract personal and financial information. Common threats: you owe back taxes, your Social Security number has been compromised, or your benefits are about to be suspended unless you act immediately. Government impersonation scams cost seniors over $200 million in 2024.
Real government agencies do not work this way. The IRS sends written notices by mail first. The SSA will never suspend your Social Security number over the phone. Neither agency will ever demand payment by gift card or wire transfer.
How to Protect Yourself
Let unknown numbers go to voicemail. Answering calls from unfamiliar numbers signals to scammers that the number is active, which encourages more contact.
Know that the IRS and Social Security Administration will never call you to demand immediate payment.
Never provide personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller, no matter how official they sound.
If you receive an official-seeming call, hang up and call the agency back directly using the phone number listed on their official government website (.gov).
Watch for pressure tactics: threats of arrest, promises of increased benefits, or claims that you must act within hours are all warning signs.
3. Grandparent and AI Voice Cloning Scams
The grandparent scam has been around for years, but in 2024 and 2025 it became significantly more dangerous. Scammers now use AI voice cloning technology to replicate a grandchild’s exact voice using as little as 3 to 5 seconds of audio harvested from social media. A call from someone who sounds exactly like your grandson or granddaughter, claiming they’ve been arrested or injured, can be nearly impossible to distinguish from the real thing.
In a 2024 global survey, one in three people reported encountering deepfake voice fraud, and 30% of those who encountered it fell victim to it. Families who have recently lost a loved one are also targeted, with scammers sometimes posing as a partner or close friend of the deceased to exploit the vulnerability of the moment.
How to Protect Yourself
Create a family code word that any family member can use to confirm their identity in a real emergency. Ask your family to set one before the end of the week.
If you receive an urgent call from someone claiming to be a family member, hang up and call them back directly using a number you already have saved.
Set your social media profiles to private. This limits the audio and video scammers can use to clone a voice.
Be especially suspicious when the caller asks you to keep the call secret from other family members. That isolation tactic is a clear warning sign.
Be cautious when emotional urgency is paired with a request for gift cards, wire transfers, or cash couriers. Real emergencies are handled through real legal and financial systems.
4. Romance Scams
Romance scammers establish long-distance online relationships, slowly building trust before requesting money for emergencies, travel, or investment opportunities. They are patient. Some spend weeks or months building a connection before introducing any financial topic. Widows, widowers, and seniors who live alone are among the most frequently targeted.
Warning signs to watch for: they are always too far away to meet in person, their profile photos seem too polished or professional, and eventually, financial topics enter the conversation.
How to Protect Yourself
Never send money to anyone you have not met in person.
If a new online acquaintance begins mixing financial requests into what seemed like a personal relationship, treat it as an immediate red flag.
Reverse image search profile photos using Google Images. Scammers frequently use stolen photos of real people.
Before making any financial decision driven by an emotional appeal, consult a trusted friend or family member.
5. Living Trust Mills and Estate Planning Scams
This scam is less well known but specifically targets seniors. “Living trust mills” are run by non-attorneys who pressure seniors into purchasing overpriced, cookie-cutter legal documents under the guise of estate planning help. An invitation often arrives for a “free estate planning seminar” at a restaurant, church, or senior center. The presentation creates fear around probate and asset protection, and a salesperson follows up at your home to close the sale. The documents produced are often generic, not properly tailored to your situation, and may come with hidden fees.
The California Attorney General has issued specific warnings about trust mill scams, noting that they frequently target seniors at churches, assisted living centers, and other places seniors gather.
Any legitimate estate planning document should be prepared by a licensed attorney in your state, not a salesperson.
How to Protect Yourself
Be skeptical of free seminars focused on estate planning. The goal is almost always to sell you something.
Any estate planning document should be prepared by a licensed attorney in your state. If you are unsure, contact your state bar association for a referral to a vetted estate planning attorney.
High-pressure tactics, “today only” pricing, or fear of immediate loss are red flags. Legitimate attorneys do not work this way.
If someone tries to meet alone with you at your home to discuss your finances, bring a trusted family member or friend.
A Few Final Thoughts
Scams work because they create pressure and exploit trust. The best countermeasure is slowing down and talking to someone before acting. A few habits that make a real difference:
Keep family informed: Open communication within your family reduces the isolation that scammers depend on.
Document assets and debts: Keeping a clear record of what exists, who holds it, and how to access it makes it much easier to spot fraudulent claims.
Designate a financial advocate: Choose a trusted person who can help review financial decisions, especially during high-stress periods like estate settlement.
Report suspicious contact: File reports with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, local law enforcement, and IC3.gov if you suspect a scam. Reporting helps protect others.
Let unknown calls go to voicemail: You can always verify and call back. You cannot un-give information once it’s shared.
How One Step After Can Help
One of the most effective protections against estate-related fraud is a clear, organized record of what actually exists. When your executor and family members know exactly which accounts, policies, and assets are legitimate, fraudulent claims are much easier to identify and dismiss. One Step After’s Guided Workbook walks you through 13 aspects of estate organization, including financial accounts, insurance policies, digital assets, debts, and contacts.
When that information is organized and accessible, your family knows what to expect, and they know what doesn’t belong.
A Will tells your family who gets what. One Step After helps them navigate everything that comes next, practically, and with a lot less stress.
You can create a One Step After account by clicking HERE. Start today to get organized, informed, and prepared.
Citations & Helpful Resources
One Step After Seniors & Scams Guide (free download)
FBI IC3, 2024 Elder Fraud Annual Report
AARP, FBI Report: Fraud 2024 (May 2025)
Scientific American, Why Scammers Target Seniors And What You Can Do About It (October 2025)
American Bar Association, The Rise of the AI-Cloned Voice Scam (September 2025)
Hiya, Q4 2024 Global Call Threat Report (February 2025)
California Attorney General's Office, Living Trust Scams
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, these resources can help:
FTC Fraud Reporting: Report scams and warn others: reportfraud.ftc.gov
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): File a complaint for internet-based fraud: ic3.gov
AARP Fraud Helpline: Free advice and fraud reporting: 1-877-908-3360
FINRA BrokerCheck: Verify investment advisor credentials: finra.org/brokercheck
Social Security Administration: Verify SSA contact is legitimate: ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213
Annual Credit Report: Check for unauthorized accounts at no cost: annualcreditreport.com