Phone scams targeting older people: how to spot them

By James editorial team, Golan Europe S.L. · Published 1 November 2026 · 9 min read

Most phone scams follow a few scripts: a fake bank, fake police, a fake tax office, or a prize. The red flags are the same each time: pressure, secrecy, and a request for money, codes or remote access. The safest rule is simple. Hang up, wait, and call back on a number you already trust, such as the one on the back of your card.

Why older people get so many of these calls

Scammers call older people because it often works for them, not because older people are foolish. Many older people still use a landline. They grew up answering every call politely. Many have savings, a pension or a paid-off home.

A large review of US studies estimated that fraud and scams affect about 1 in 18 older adults living at home each year, and the authors think the true figure is likely higher^[1]. Many people never report it.

Another review looked at why older adults are targeted. It listed things like social isolation, a trusting nature, changes in memory and thinking, and simply not knowing how modern scams work^[2]. Lonely people may stay on the line longer because a caller is friendly. That is not a weakness. It is human, and scammers use it.

So the aim of this article is not to scare your parent. It is to give them a few scripts to recognise and one rule to follow every time.

The four scripts you will hear most

The UK government's Stop! Think Fraud campaign describes the common phone scripts clearly^[3]. Most calls are a version of one of these.

1. "This is your bank's fraud team." The caller says there is a problem with the account. Someone is trying to steal money. To keep it safe, your parent must move it to a "safe account". In fact, that account belongs to the criminal.

2. "This is the police." The caller says criminals have copied your parent's bank card. They need help with an investigation. A courier or "undercover officer" will come to collect the card, the PIN, cash or an expensive item bought "as evidence". All of it goes to the fraudster.

3. "This is the tax office." In the UK the caller claims to be from HMRC. In the US they may say they are from the IRS. They say your parent owes tax or has broken the law and could be arrested today. The "fine" must be paid now, often by bank transfer or gift cards.

4. "You have won" or "You are owed money." A prize, a refund, compensation for a mis-sold product, or a great investment. There is just a small fee to release it first.

Other versions include fake broadband or computer support ("your internet has been hacked"), fake energy companies and fake charities after a disaster in the news. The details change. The shape stays the same.

Red flags that matter more than the story

Your parent does not need to learn every script. They need to notice the signs that show up in nearly all of them. Stop! Think Fraud lists these warning signs for phone fraud^[3]:

• The caller asks for personal or bank details.
• The caller asks for a one-time passcode or PIN.
• The caller wants remote access to a computer or phone.
• The caller pushes for a payment or a money transfer.
• The caller gets pushy or panicky when asked questions or for proof.

The UK's financial regulator, the FCA, adds a few more questions to ask yourself^[4]. Was the call out of the blue? Do I feel rushed? Does it sound too good to be true? Am I being told to keep it secret? Am I feeling worried or excited?

The last one is the most useful. Strong feelings are the scammer's tool. Fear, panic, hope and excitement all stop people thinking clearly. A simple family line can help: "If a call makes my heart race, I hang up first and think later."

Real banks and the real police will never ask you to move money to a "safe account". They will never send a courier for your card. They will never ask for your PIN^[3].

Why the number on the screen can lie

Many older people trust caller ID. If the screen shows the bank's real number, surely it is the bank?

Not always. Criminals can make a call look like it comes from a number you know. This is called number spoofing^[3]. The screen might show the bank, the local police station, or even a family member.

Scammers also gather small facts first. They may know your parent's name, address, bank, or the last digits of a card. These details can come from data leaks or social media. The NCSC, the UK's cyber security agency, warns that criminals use what is online about you to make their messages more convincing^[5].

So the rule is: the caller ID is not proof, and knowing your details is not proof. Only a call you start yourself, on a number you already trust, is proof.

A newer trick is AI voice cloning, where a scammer copies the voice of someone you know from a short clip online^[3]. That is most often used to fake a child or grandchild in trouble. We cover it in our guide to the "Hi Mum" scam and grandparent scams.

The one rule: hang up and call back

If your parent remembers only one thing, make it this:

1. Hang up. It is not rude. A genuine bank will not mind waiting while you check^[4].
2. Use a different phone if you can, or wait a few minutes before you call. Give yourself time to calm down and think.
3. Call back on a number you already know: the number on the back of the card, a bank statement, or a utility bill^[3]. Never use a number the caller gives you.
4. Ask a family member before doing anything with money, even if the call seemed real.

Write it on a card and put it next to the home phone. Large letters. Something like:

• "I never move money because of a phone call."
• "I never give my PIN or a code from a text."
• "I hang up and call back on the number on my card."

Scripts like these help because the person does not have to think under pressure. They just follow the card.

What to agree as a family

Talk about phone scams before anything happens. It feels less personal then. You might say: "There's a scam going round where people pretend to be the bank. Can we agree what you'd do?"

Some things families agree on:

• A money rule. No large payment or transfer after an unexpected call without a chat with a named family member first.
• A safe phrase. A word or phrase only close family knows. If someone calls claiming to be family but cannot say it, hang up. Stop! Think Fraud recommends this^[3].
• A "no shame" promise. "If you ever think you've been tricked, tell me straight away. I will never be cross." People who feel embarrassed often hide a scam. That gives criminals time.
• Call blocking. Many phone companies offer caller display, call blocking or a way to reject withheld numbers. The NCSC suggests asking your provider^[5].
• Bank settings. Ask the bank, in branch or on the number on the card, what protections they offer for older customers, such as alerts or payment limits.

Making the phone itself easier and safer also helps. Our guide on how to make a smartphone easier for an elderly person covers blocking and simpler settings.

How to report a scam call

Reporting helps even if no money was lost. It helps the authorities find patterns and block numbers.

In the UK, Stop! Think Fraud explains how to report suspicious calls and texts, and where to go if money was lost^[3]. The NCSC site has step-by-step pages for scam calls, texts and emails^[5]. In the US, you can report scam calls to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov^[6].

If your parent has already paid, shared bank details or let someone into their computer, act fast. Our guide on what to do if your elderly parent has been scammed walks through the first hour.

If someone is in danger, for example a "courier" is at the door and your parent feels threatened, call the emergency number: 999 in the UK, 911 in the US.

A word on companions and help at home

Some older people now talk with an AI companion like James during the day. James is always honest that he is an AI. If your parent mentions a worrying call, he will not tell them what to do with money, but he can send a real message to the family member they chose. The rule on the card next to the phone still matters most.

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