Scams can arrive in many forms. A phone call that feels urgent. A piece of official-looking mail. An email or text that appears to come from a trusted organization. While the delivery methods vary, the goal remains the same: to pressure someone into acting quickly without taking the time to verify the details.

Older adults are often targeted because scammers assume they may be more trusting of authority, more responsive to personal outreach, or less likely to question communications that appear legitimate.

Awareness and conversation remain the strongest defenses. Below are the most common scams seniors continue to encounter, along with practical steps you can take to protect yourself.

1. Urgent Family Emergency Calls

One of the most emotionally manipulative scams involves a call claiming a loved one is in trouble. The caller may pretend to be a grandchild, a lawyer, or even a police officer, insisting money is needed immediately for bail, medical bills, or travel, to help the loved one. These calls are designed to create panic and urgency, so there is no time to verify the story.

How to protect yourself:
Slow the conversation down. Hang up and contact a family member you trust to confirm what is happening. Never send money or gift cards based on a single phone call, especially when secrecy or urgency is emphasized.

2. Messages Claiming You Have Won Something

Fraudulent prize notifications arrive by email, text, or social media message and claim you have won money, a gift card, or a sweepstakes. Often, the message asks for payment or personal information to release the prize. Sometimes the message looks legitimate and uses the name of a well-known company or organization.

How to protect yourself:
Legitimate prizes never require upfront payment. Delete the message and avoid clicking links or scanning QR codes from unknown senders.

3. Health Coverage and Medicare Requests

Scammers frequently impersonate health insurance providers, claiming they need to verify information or update benefits. These contacts may arrive by phone, email, or text and can sound official.

How to protect yourself:
Never share your Medicare or insurance number unless you initiated the contact. Medicare and insurance providers do not call unexpectedly to request personal or financial information. When in doubt, contact the provider directly using a verified phone number.

4. Free Trial Health Products

Advertisements for supplements, pain relief products, or anti-aging solutions often promise dramatic results. What is not always obvious is that a free trial may enroll you in recurring charges that are difficult to cancel.

How to protect yourself:
Read the fine print carefully. Be cautious about providing credit card information, especially for products promoted through unsolicited ads or calls. Review your bank and credit card statements regularly for unfamiliar charges.

5. Government and Authority Imposters

Impersonation scams remain among the most common and costly. A call, letter, or message may claim to come from the IRS, Social Security Administration, a bank, or another government agency and threaten penalties, benefit loss, or legal action if immediate payment is not made.

It’s become more common in our politically charged society for seniors to receive official-looking mail that appears to come from an elected official or government organization. These messages are designed to stoke fear, warning that Medicare or Social Security programs are at risk and urging recipients to donate money to help “save” these programs.

How to protect yourself:
Government agencies do not demand immediate payment or donations through mail, phone calls, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps. Be cautious of communications that rely on fear or urgency. If you are unsure, contact the agency directly using a trusted source.

6. Bank and Account Impersonation Scams

Many scams now appear to come from banks, credit card companies, financial institutions, or other subscription services. You may receive an email or text urging you to click a link to change your password, verify a transaction, or review an attached bill or statement.

These messages often look convincing and may include logos, signatures, or language that appears legitimate. However, organizations will not ask you to share passwords or login information through email or text.

How to protect yourself:
Do not click links or open attachments from unsolicited messages. Instead, contact the sender directly using a phone number or website you trust.

What to Do If You Are Targeted

If something does not feel right, trust your instincts. Talk with a family member, friend, or trusted advisor before taking action. If you believe you have been targeted or scammed, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Reporting helps protect others and can prevent similar scams from spreading.

Sharing information and staying aware are powerful tools. The more openly we talk about scams, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.