In 19th century New York, con man George C. Parker managed to make a fortune by selling the Brooklyn Bridge multiple times, despite not owning the landmark. He pulled off the scam by showing his victims blueprints and convincing documents that appeared to prove he owned the bridge. Parker told them he needed some quick cash and was offering to sell it at a low price.
Despite this supposed proof, you might wonder how anybody could believe such an obvious lie and think they were genuinely purchasing the Brooklyn Bridge.
The key to Parker’s scam is that he specifically targeted recent immigrants to the US. He took advantage of the fact that they were in an unfamiliar city and may not have known very much about the US, making it easier to convince them that he could sell them a famous landmark.
Modern scam artists take the same approach and target vulnerable people who are potentially more likely to be susceptible to their methods, especially the elderly.
61% of people over the age of 65 have been the target of a scam
Older people could be more vulnerable to scams for several reasons.
First, many modern scams rely on manipulating technology. For instance, scammers might send “phishing emails” encouraging you to click malicious links or share sensitive information. Criminals are also increasingly using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create realistic “deepfake” videos. These videos can convincingly imitate popular figures and promote scams.
Older people who are less experienced with technology might find it more difficult to spot the signs of these kinds of scams.
Plus, loneliness and isolation could also make elderly people more vulnerable. If they’re in the house alone and a scammer comes to the door or calls on the phone, they may be more inclined to engage as they welcome the social contact. Additionally, without any support, they could be more likely to succumb to pressure tactics from a scammer.
As such, criminals often focus on elderly people. According to research from Independent Age in 2024, 61% of over-65s had been targeted by a scam. Additionally, 31% of people who were the victim of a fraud said it had a negative effect on their mental health.
As such, if you have older relatives, you may want to take the following steps to protect them against scams.
5 ways to protect older relatives from scams
1. Educate them about common scam methods
Your relatives might not be aware of how advanced modern scams can be and how convincing fake communications might appear. So, if they receive a call or email from somebody claiming to be with their bank, for example, they could easily fall for it.
That’s why education is so important. Spend some time explaining some of the common methods that scammers might use, such as phishing emails, deepfake videos, or pressuring people to share bank details over the phone.
When they know the signs to watch out for, your elderly relatives may be more likely to identify scams early.
2. Install a call blocker on their phone
Despite the increase in online scams, criminals still use cold calling and have the technology to mimic phone numbers. This means that a scam call could come from a number that appears legitimate.
Call blockers can prevent these scam communications, to some extent. While they’re not foolproof, they can block a lot of the incoming calls from criminals. Many landlines have built-in call blocking features and you can install an app on your relative’s mobile phone too.
3. Check their online security measures
If your elderly relatives use a computer, it’s important to check what online security measures they have in place.
Helping them install anti-virus software on their computer gives them an added layer of protection in case they do click a malicious link.
You can also activate two-factor authentication, which requires a one-time passcode as well as their password when accessing accounts. As such, even if their passwords are compromised, their online accounts will still be safe.
Scammers are always finding new ways to get around these security measures but they still offer some level of protection.
4. Review their social media accounts
Social media can be very beneficial for older people because it allows them to stay connected with friends and family members. However, scammers will often use social media to target people or find out information about them.
You may want to review your relatives’ social media accounts to check that they are not sharing too many personal details or communicating with suspicious accounts.
5. Help them to combat loneliness
Loneliness often means that older people are more likely to engage with a scammer over the phone or on social media. Consequently, finding ways to combat loneliness could mean that your relatives are less likely to succumb to a scam.
Visiting regularly and helping them stay active can make a big difference. You might help them find local community groups or clubs they can join too.
Following these simple steps could go a long way to protecting your older relatives from scams.