Six practical steps — the conversation, three simple rules, a family code word and a few iPhone settings — to protect an older parent from scam calls and texts.
If you're worried about a parent and scam calls, you're not imagining the risk. In 2025, people aged 60 and over filed 201,266 complaints with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and reported $7.7 billion in losses — complaints up 37% and losses up 59% from 2024. (FBI IC3 2025 report) The scams that hit older adults hardest usually arrive the same way: a phone call, a voicemail or a text that creates panic and asks for money fast.
Got a message like this? Check it in seconds.
Check it with ShieldrYou can't screen every call for them. What you can do is give them a few rules that hold up under pressure, set up their phone so fewer scams get through, and make yourself the easy, judgment-free person to check with. Here's how, in order.
| Step | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| 1. Talk, don't lecture | People act on advice that respects them; shame makes them hide a mistake |
| 2. Three rules | Short enough to remember while a scammer is shouting |
| 3. A family code word | Beats a cloned voice or a “new number” story |
| 4. iPhone settings | Fewer scam calls and texts reach them at all |
| 5. Be the second opinion | Checking with you becomes a habit, not an admission |
| 6. A plan for “I already paid” | Speed matters when money has gone |
The FTC's guidance for anyone helping older adults spot fraud comes down to tone: use plain language and clear steps they can act on, and encourage rather than lecture, shame or frighten. It also says messages land better when they come from someone the person already trusts. (FTC) That's you.
In practice: pick a calm moment, not right after a scare. Share a scam you got yourself — everyone gets them now. Ask what calls and texts they've been getting lately; you'll learn more than you'd guess. And make it clear that if they ever get fooled, you want to hear about it, and you won't be angry. Scammers often tell people to keep things secret; the FBI says impersonators tell victims not to contact family, banks or police. (FBI IC3) A parent who's embarrassed is easier to isolate.
Long lists of scam types are hard to remember on the spot. Three rules cover most of what targets older adults:
Write the three rules on a card and leave it by the phone. It sounds old-fashioned; it works when someone is under pressure.
Scammers can now clone a voice from a short audio clip, which makes the “grandma, I'm in trouble” call far more convincing. The FBI recommends creating a secret word or phrase with your family to verify identity, and limiting public audio and photos of yourself, for example by making social media accounts private. (FBI IC3) Choose a word that isn't on anyone's social media, and make sure your parent knows to ask for it before doing anything. Our guide to the AI voice clone scam walks through how that call usually goes.
A few settings mean fewer scam calls and texts reach your parent at all. Do them together, on their phone:
The goal is a habit: “If something asks for money or personal details, send it to me before you do anything.” Make that easy. A screenshot or a forwarded text is enough. Answer quickly and without a sigh — the next time, they'll check again.
If you can't always answer, give them a second check they can run alone. Free options include forwarding a scam text to 7726 to report it to their carrier, and our guide on how to check if a link is safe.
Shieldr is an iPhone app for exactly that moment. Your parent shares the suspicious text, screenshot, email, voicemail or link to Shieldr, and gets a plain-English answer — safe, suspicious or scam — with a one-sentence reason. Voicemails are transcribed first, and links are checked against Google's list of known malicious sites. From there they can report the text to 7726, block the sender, or have Shieldr draft a reply. Shieldr's Family plan ($14.99/month or $59.99/year) is meant for families who want to share that protection; Solo is $9.99/month or $39.99/year. It's a paid app with no free tier, and it's one more check, not a guarantee — it can't listen to a live call, so the three rules above still come first.
If money has gone, speed matters. Agree now that your parent will call you and their bank right away — no embarrassment, no waiting. The FTC's steps by payment type: (FTC)
The FBI also suggests contacting the three credit bureaus — Equifax (800-685-1111), Experian (888-397-3742) and TransUnion (888-909-8872) — and filing a complaint at ic3.gov. (FBI IC3) For help reporting, the Justice Department's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), open weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, assigns each caller a case manager. (Office for Victims of Crime) Watch for “recovery” offers afterwards; the FBI warns that fake “we recovered your money” claims are a ruse to revictimize people who already lost money. (FBI IC3)
They share a text, email or voicemail to Shieldr and get a plain-English verdict — safe, suspicious or scam — with a one-sentence reason. It's one more check before they tap or pay anything, not a guarantee.
Get Shieldr on the App StoreKeep it short, practical and respectful. The FTC's guidance for helping older adults says to use plain language, give clear steps they can take, and encourage rather than lecture, shame or frighten. Asking them to call you before paying anyone works better than a list of warnings.
In Settings, Apps, Phone, Screen Unknown Callers can be set to Ask Reason for Calling or Silence, and Call Filtering can send likely spam to its own list. In iOS 26, Settings, Apps, Messages has Screen Unknown Senders, which moves texts from people who aren't contacts into a separate filter. It's off by default.
Call their bank or card issuer first, then report it at ic3.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If they're 60 or older, the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, assigns a case manager who helps with reporting.
Related: the AI voice clone scam, the Medicare open enrollment scam, the “you missed jury duty” scam, and how to report a scam text.