Sadly, financial scams targeting older adults are on the rise across the UK. And it’s not just about losing money. The emotional impact can be devastating. Victims often experience embarrassment, anxiety and even a loss of independence.

Fraudsters know exactly who to target and why. Older adults often save over a lifetime and many don’t know much about online security or digital technology. Add that to social isolation and it’s obvious why scammers see the elderly as prime targets.

In this article, we’ll explore the most common scams, warning signs to watch for and practical ways to protect older loved ones.

Why older adults are targeted

Older adults are targeted for three main reasons:

They have assets

Years of saving make older adults attractive to scammers.

Less digital familiarity

Many older adults didn’t grow up online, so fraudsters find it easier to trick them with emails, texts or fake websites.

Social isolation

Being lonely can make someone more trusting and a friendly call or message can easily make an older person trust a scammer.

Research suggests that three in five people aged 65 and over have been targeted by fraud or scams, with many losing a lot of money. Worse than that, embarrassment often stops victims from reporting it, which leaves them vulnerable to repeated attacks.

Even individuals who are seen as quite savvy can still fall for scams. This usually happens when they are manipulated, making them feel concern, urgency or sympathy for the scammer. Fraudsters are professionals at creating believable situations that make victims act quickly, usually against their better judgement.

Common scams targeting older adults

Scammers use a wide variety of tricks to steal money. Some of the most common include:

Phone and impersonation scams

Fraudsters might call pretending to be your bank, the police or a government official. They insist that you act immediately to “protect your account.” Often, they pressure victims into giving out PINs, passwords or transferring money.

Online scams

Fake emails, pop-ups and websites can look very convincing. They ask for personal details or banking information. They can even insist that victims pay for a fake service.

Scams like this have become more sophisticated in recent years, with some able to hack legitimate websites to make their messages look real.

Investment and pension scams

A phone call about a “high return” investment or special pension deals can sound tempting, especially when someone tells you it’s a one-time opportunity. But it’s usually a scam in disguise and the end result is losing lifetime savings.

Romance and emotional scams

A common scam uses social media to build an emotional connection with the victim, posing as a potential partner. Once they gain an elderly person’s trust, they manipulate them with lies about emergencies and ask for financial help. Victims can lose thousands and understandably, the emotional toll is huge.

Postal and doorstep scams

Postal and doorstep scammers are also very common. Fake letters or fraudsters pretend to represent charities or insurers and ask for payments or personal details. It can be easy to trick an elderly person like this, especially once they are shown official-looking logos and documentation.

How scammers exploit vulnerabilities

Fraudsters are clever. They know that older adults are more likely to have a slower memory recall, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation. They’re also quicker to trust authority figures and less likely to question scammers than younger adults.

This tactic used by many fraudsters is called ‘social engineering’. It focuses fully on manipulating someone’s emotions or fears. For instance, they might create urgent situations to make the victim act without thinking.

Warning signs of financial exploitation

It isn’t always obvious when someone is being scammed, but there are some red flags to watch out for:

Sudden, unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts.
Unusual financial behaviour, like paying for unfamiliar services.
Receiving calls, emails or letters from unknown people.
Secrecy about money or reluctance to talk about their finances.
Becoming withdrawn socially after a suspicious contact.

If any of these signs appear alongside anxiety, secrecy or hurried decision-making, it’s time to act.

The importance of personal safety devices

Today’s personal alarms for the elderly have moved on from the days of a red triangle on string, hanging from the bathroom ceiling.

SureSafe personal alarms are popular with the elderly as they can go everywhere in the form of either a pendant or a watch. Thanks to their waterproof functionality, they’re also perfect for 24/7 monitoring as they can be worn in the bath or shower.

Above all, they provide a fast and effective way to call for help when a vulnerable person wants to get rid of a persistent doorstep caller or feels pressure from a scammer on the phone.

Protecting older adults

Older adults shouldn’t have to navigate the risk of scams alone. While fraudsters can be very persistent, families and communities can support their elderly.

Here are some simple ways to help keep older adults safe:

Digital literacy

Although older adults may not be confident or interested in digital learning, basic online safety can empower them to protect themselves. Teaching them to recognise phishing emails or suspicious links is a great way to help them avoid scams.

Secure banking

It’s essential that older people understand the importance of strong passwords, unique logins and even two-factor authentication on their bank accounts. But if this step is a bit beyond an older person themself, then younger family members or friends can offer to help with their banking activity to make sure everything is secure.

Open communication

Many elderly people love nothing more than having a good chat. Having regular conversations about scams and how to recognise them can help to stop fraudsters in their tracks.

Consider personal safety alarms

Personal alarms can give older adults a quiet but powerful sense of reassurance, especially if they ever feel pressured or unsafe.

With a simple press of a button, devices like those from SureSafe connect them to 24/7 support, helping them stay independent while knowing help is always close by.

Community and social support

Community support is essential when it comes to reducing isolation in the elderly. Scammers bank on older people being isolated, which makes them susceptible to all sorts of manipulation. Trusted friends or family members can be an extra set of eyes and ears, noticing any early warning signs.

How to report and protect yourself

If a scam occurs, it’s important that action is taken quickly. Any fraud needs to be reported immediately to the bank or financial institution. This is so they can freeze accounts or stop any payments to the scammers.

Action Fraud is the UK’s national centre for reporting scams. Older people can use it to report fraud by phone, email or in person. Families and carers can also report on behalf of their loved one, making sure that help is on the way. And it’s also important to know that they can get legal advice about power of attorney, which is essential for protecting themselves from future exploitation.

Protecting your loved ones

Helping older adults stay safe, connected and informed is one of the most valuable things we can do. Thankfully, it’s never too late to start.

No one should feel alone or pressured when something doesn’t seem right. SureSafe personal alarms give older adults a simple, reassuring way to call for help if they feel unsafe.

With 24/7 monitoring and easy-to-use devices, support is always a button press away. It means that older people can have confident living independently and families can relax as help is there when it’s needed.

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