7 of The Latest Phone Scams Targeting Seniors
Phone scams targeting seniors are on the rise, and scammers are using new, sophisticated tactics to steal money and personal information. Older adults are often targeted because scammers believe they are more trusting and less familiar with digital fraud schemes.
1. Medicare & Health Insurance Scams 📞
Scammers pose as Medicare representatives, claiming they need to verify your personal information or issue a new card. They may ask for:
❌ Your Medicare number
❌ Your Social Security number
❌ A payment for a fake service
🔹 How to Stay Safe: Medicare will NEVER call you unexpectedly. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE.
2. Social Security Scams ⚠️
A scammer may call pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA), saying:
❌ Your Social Security number has been suspended
❌ You owe money and must pay immediately
❌ You will lose benefits unless you provide information
🔹 How to Stay Safe: The SSA will never threaten or demand immediate payments over the phone. If in doubt, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
3. Grandparent Scams 👴👵
This emotional scam involves a caller pretending to be your grandchild or a lawyer claiming your grandchild is in trouble. They may say:
❌ They have been arrested and need bail money
❌ They had an accident and need emergency funds
❌ They need gift cards or wire transfers immediately
🔹 How to Stay Safe: Always verify the story by calling your family members directly. Never send money or gift cards to someone you haven’t confirmed.
4. IRS & Tax Scams 🏛️
Scammers pretend to be from the IRS, claiming you owe back taxes and must pay immediately. They may:
❌ Threaten arrest or legal action
❌ Demand gift cards, wire transfers, or Bitcoin
❌ Spoof the caller ID to appear as “IRS”
🔹 How to Stay Safe: The IRS never calls demanding payment. If you get a call like this, hang up and contact the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.
5. Tech Support Scams 💻
A scammer may call claiming to be from Microsoft, Apple, or another tech company, saying:
❌ Your computer has a virus
❌ They need remote access to fix the issue
❌ You must pay for a fake software update
🔹 How to Stay Safe: No legitimate tech company will call you unexpectedly. If you need support, contact the company directly through their official website.
6. Fake Charity Scams ❤️
Scammers often take advantage of seniors' generosity by creating fake charity calls related to:
❌ Natural disasters
❌ Veterans or police organizations
❌ Medical emergencies
🔹 How to Stay Safe: Verify charities by checking sites like CharityNavigator.org before donating. Never give money over the phone.
7. Lottery & Prize Scams 🎉
A caller may claim you’ve won a lottery, sweepstakes, or contest, but you must:
❌ Pay taxes or fees upfront
❌ Provide banking details for the “prize transfer”
❌ Act immediately or “lose” your winnings
🔹 How to Stay Safe: If you didn’t enter a contest, you didn’t win. Real lotteries never require payment to claim a prize.
