Scam Awareness: Helping Older Adults Stay Safe from Fraud

March is a good time to slow down and talk about something that affects far too many older adults and families: scams. Fraud schemes continue to change and evolve, and many are designed specifically to create fear, urgency, or trust so that someone will send money or share personal information before they have time to think it through. The Maryland Department of Aging warns that scams and fraud schemes are meant to trick people into giving away money or sensitive information that can then be used to steal identities, empty bank accounts, or commit other crimes. Older adults are often targeted because scammers believe they may have savings and may be less familiar with certain forms of technology.

The State of Maryland highlights several common scam types that older adults should be aware of. One major category is imposter scams. These scams work by pretending to be someone trustworthy or familiar. In some cases, the scammer poses as an authority figure, such as a utility company representative, a government agency, a bank employee, or even a tech support professional. The goal is often to pressure the person into acting quickly by threatening service shutoffs, legal trouble, account problems, or computer issues. Maryland’s guidance specifically warns about utility shutoff scams, fake IRS or government threats, bank account “problem” calls, and tech support scams that ask for remote access to a computer.

Another type Maryland warns about is what could be called familiarity scams. These are especially upsetting because they rely on emotion and personal connection. A scammer may pretend to be a grandchild in trouble, a friend reaching out through social media, or a romantic partner asking for help during an emergency. The State of Maryland notes that these scams often involve urgent requests for money, gift cards, bail, or medical expenses. They are designed to catch someone off guard and make them respond with their heart before they have time to verify the story.

The state of Maryland also warns older adults about offers that sound like a chance of a lifetime. These may promise easy money, grant funds, investment opportunities, or some kind of financial shortcut. Maryland cautions that these kinds of offers can cost people their savings and, in some situations, may even involve illegal schemes tied to tax avoidance or other false promises. As always, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Health-related scams remain important to watch as well. Maryland’s Senior Medicare Patrol reminds older adults that Medicare fraud can happen when someone knowingly deceives Medicare for payment and that medical identity theft can occur when a beneficiary’s Medicare number is misused by a provider, supplier, scammer, or someone pretending to be the beneficiary. The program also warns people to be skeptical of calls or offers for services or equipment that seem unnecessary or too good to be true.

So what can older adults and caregivers do?

• A good first step is to pause before responding to unexpected calls, texts, emails, or messages.
• Scammers want people to react quickly.
• Taking a moment to verify the source, calling a trusted family member, or contacting the organization directly through an official phone number can help prevent a costly mistake.
• It is also wise never to give out banking details, Medicare information, passwords, or gift card numbers to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
• Maryland’s fraud resources emphasize that these scams can come through phone calls, email, text messages, social media, regular mail, or even in person.

For families and caregivers, scam prevention is also about conversation. Checking in with older loved ones, talking openly about common fraud tactics, and reminding them that it is okay to hang up, ignore a message, or ask for help can make a real difference. A little caution can protect not only finances, but also confidence and peace of mind.

At MAC, we know that healthy aging includes staying informed and staying connected. Scam awareness is one more way to support independence, dignity, and safety for older adults in our community. By knowing what to watch for and talking about fraud before it happens, we can help protect ourselves and the people we care about.

If someone believes they may be dealing with elder fraud, the Maryland Department of Aging recommend people to contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311. The State of Maryland also directs consumers to report scams to the Federal Trade Commission and provides additional fraud-prevention resources through its aging services website.