How do I protect my elderly parents from scam calls?

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Start with a calm conversation

Pick a quiet time and ask which calls have been bothering them. Offer to review the phone together. The FTC’s Pass It On materials are made for sharing practical scam advice with older adults. Read one example together rather than trying to cover every possible scam at once.

Write a response your parent is comfortable saying: “I’m going to check that and call back.” Practice ending the call. Agree that they can tell you about a worrying call whether or not they replied or paid. Ask who they would like to contact if you are at work or cannot answer.

Agree on a private family code word

The FBI recommends a secret word or phrase to help verify family members. Choose it together in a conversation you initiated. Keep it private. Do not use the example phrase from an article as your own, or read the answer out to a caller who asks what it is.

Write down the next step too: hang up and call the relative on a number already saved in the phone. A code word should sit alongside that independent callback. For a familiar voice asking for emergency money, use our family voice-call guide.

Put two trusted contacts on a simple paper list by the phone. Ask each person on the list if they are willing to help check an urgent request. Practice finding a saved number without using the incoming call’s recent-call entry.

Review free phone settings together

On iPhone, open Settings > Apps > Phone and look for Silence Unknown Callers or the newer Screen Unknown Callers menu. Current choices include Ask Reason for Calling and Silence. Follow Apple’s instructions; menu names depend on the software. Save family and important contacts before silencing unsaved numbers, and agree when to check voicemail.

On Android with Phone by Google, review Caller ID & spam protection in the Phone app settings. Google explains spam labeling. Supported Pixels have Call Screen; do not assume every Android phone offers the same feature.

Ask the carrier about free basic T-Mobile Scam Shield, Verizon Call Filter or AT&T ActiveArmor. Check which tools are included for their phone and plan. Avoid accepting a paid upgrade while you are only trying the free protection.

Set a rule for money and account information

Agree to pause any unexpected request for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency, even when it sounds urgent. The FTC’s family-emergency guidance recommends checking the story with the relative directly or with another trusted person. Make the callback the ordinary family routine.

Ask your parent whether they want help reviewing their bank’s fraud alerts and trusted-contact options. Use the bank’s own app or a number from their statement. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has resources on protecting older adults from fraud, including help choosing a trusted contact.

If a parent already paid, help them act

Contact the bank, card issuer or payment service promptly and explain the fraud. Ask whether a transfer can be stopped or a charge reversed. The FTC’s recovery guide gives steps for different payment methods. Keep receipts and messages in a private folder for the report.

Help your parent report through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For a threatened or completed crime, contact local police; use emergency services for immediate danger. Our reporting guide lists the official routes. Let your parent take part in the next steps rather than making changes to their accounts without them.

Questions people ask

Will Do Not Call registration stop scammers?

No. The FTC explains that the registry does not block calls or stop scammers. It is free for personal numbers. Add screening and a family verification plan rather than relying on registration alone.

What should we put beside the phone?

Put the family callback rule, two trusted contacts and the reminder to pause before sending money on a simple card. Practice using it together. Keep the private code word out of anything you share publicly.