Recognizing Scam Emails, Texts, and Phone Calls: A Safety Guide for Older Adults

Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected with loved ones. Unfortunately, it has also made it easier for scammers to target people, especially older adults.

What is an AI Voice Scam?

One of the newest and most concerning tactics is AI voice cloning. Scammers can now use a copy of a person’s voice using just a few seconds of audio from social media, voicemail greetings, or online videos. They may pretend to be your child, grandchild, friend, or even someone from your bank. The good news is that there are some signs you can watch for.

1. Urgency: A scammer’s goal is to create a panic so that you act quickly before you have time to reconsider.
2. Requests for Untraceable Payments: Be cautious if someone asks for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps. These payment methods are hard to trace and difficult to recover.
3. Unknown Numbers: If you don’t recognize the phone number, let it go to voicemail. Scammers often “spoof” numbers to make them appear local or familiar.
4. Emotional Manipulation: If the caller is trying to make you afraid, upset, or rushed then pause. Staying calm is your strongest defense.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Don’t Answer Calls from Unknown Numbers: If it’s important, they will leave a message. You can contact the person back with a trusted number you find yourself, not one provided in a suspicious message.
• Verify Information: If someone calls claiming to someone from your bank, hang up and call the number listed on the back of your credit/debit card. If a loved one calls in distress, hang up and call them directly on the number you already have saved.
• Use a Family Codeword: Choose a simple codeword with close friends and family, so that if there’s ever an emergency, they can use the codeword to confirm its really them.
• Keep Personal Information Private: Never share your PIN, online banking passwords, one-time access codes, or social security numbers. Banks will never ask for this information through email, text, or unsolicited calls.
• Be Careful What You Share on Social Media: Scammers can collect voice clips, birthdays, names of family members, pet names, and more. The less personal information you share publicly, the better.

Remember the S.C.A.M. Framework:
When something feels off, use GOLD's S.C.A.M. framework to protect yourself:

S: Stop. Pause before you react. Scammers want you to act fast. Take a breath and give yourself time to think.

C: Confirm. Verify who is actually contacting you. Hang up and call the person or organization directly using a number you already trust.

A: Avoid. Do not share personal information, passwords, or payment details. Do not click unfamiliar links or download attachments.

M: Make a Report. If something seems suspicious, report it. You can contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or tell a trusted friend or family member. Reporting helps protect others too.

You do not need to memorize every type of scam. If you can remember S.C.A.M., you have the tools to stay safe.

How to Recognize Phishing Emails:

Phishing emails try to trick you into clicking a link or sharing personal information. Some warning signs include:

• The sender’s email address looks unusual or misspelled.
• The message creates urgency.
• You’re asked to click a link or call a number you don’t recognize.
• There are spelling or grammar mistakes.

When in doubt, do not click unfamiliar links. Instead, go directly to the company’s official website by typing it into your browser yourself.

If You Think You’ve Been Scammed:

1. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
2. If you share sensitive information, consider contacting one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. They can help you decide whether to place a fraud alert on your credit file.
3. Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Reporting helps protect others from becoming victims.

Scammers rely on fear and urgency. The best protection is to stay calm, verify the validity of the phone call, and never send money/personal information without confirming who you are speaking to.

Just remember, you are not being rude by hanging up or asking questions. You are being informed and staying safe.

Additional Readings:

• https://www.fidelity-bank.com/news/watch-out-for-ai-voice-scams
• https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/report/phish/
• https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumers-and-communities/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/phishing-attack-prevention.html#howtoprotect

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