Grandparents bring wisdom, love, and support to our lives. This year on Grandparents Day, we want to celebrate by keeping them safe, especially online, where scammers increasingly target seniors with alarmingly sophisticated ruses.
Recent Real-World Scams Targeting Seniors
Retirees Losing Life Savings in Impostor Scams
A recent FTC report highlights a worrying rise in high-dollar impostor scams. From 2020 to 2024, reports of victims aged 60 and above losing at least $10,000 quadrupled, while losses exceeding $100,000 increased nearly sevenfold.
Scammers impersonate trusted businesses or government agencies to target seniors with fake security alerts, bogus criminal accusations, or tech warnings, pressuring them into transferring money to “safe accounts,” Bitcoin ATMs, or couriers. These schemes often start with a phone call, keeping victims in a state of panic and isolation.
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‘Grandparent Scams’ Gone Corporate
In one case from May 2024, prosecutors in the US charged 16 people allegedly linked to a large grandparent scam ring. Victims received calls saying a loved one (a grandchild for example) was in serious trouble—accident, arrest, health emergency—and were asked to send money via couriers or mail. Estimated losses exceeded $55 million from May to December 2023.
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AI-Driven Voice Deepfakes Impersonating Officials
Scammers are now using AI-generated voice technology, or deepfakes, to impersonate senior US officials and build trust before launching vishing (voice phishing) or smishing campaigns. Initially targeting high-level individuals, these tactics increasingly affect everyday people, including seniors. The best defense? Always verify through a separate, trusted channel.
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Grandparents Day: How You Can Help Keep Them Safe
1. Raise Awareness of Scam Tactics
- Explain common scam techniques, such as urgent demands, impersonation, or plausible emergencies.
- Teach them that scammers may pressure them with claims like “your account will be closed if you don’t act now,” or impersonate family in distress.
2. Encourage Verification and Second Opinions
- If they receive a suspicious call or message that especially involves sending money in any form or downloading unfamiliar software, advise them to pause and verify. For instance, call the family member or institution using known, official contact info.
- Emphasize that legitimate organizations never demand immediate payment or threaten arrest via unsolicited contact.
3. Introduce Bitdefender’s Free Scam Detection Tools
- Scamio: A free AI-powered scam detector. Seniors can forward suspicious texts, links, emails, or QR codes to Scamio (via browser, WhatsApp, and Messenger) for instant analysis.
- Link Checker & Scam Copilot’s Online Scam Protection: These tools proactively warn against phishing, malicious ads, and scammy sites, blocking access before harm occurs.
4. Promote Basic Cyber Hygiene
- Encourage strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on accounts.
- Remind them not to click unknown links or attachments.
- Suggest keeping devices updated and installing trusted security solutions like one from Bitdefender
5. Offer Emotional Support and Encourage Open Communication
- Let grandparents know they can always reach out to you without judgment if something doesn’t feel right.
- Regular check-ins can help seniors feel less isolated and confident to question unusual requests or calls.
For the ultimate digital protection, use Bitdefender Ultimate Security, which provides all-in-one digital safety for your entire household, covering Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices under a single subscription.
It includes award-winning malware detection, a robust firewall, anti-phishing and anti-fraud filtering, unlimited VPN traffic for privacy, a password manager, parental controls for families, and even an Identity Theft Protection service with Dark Web monitoring.
Plus, when it comes to scams, we’ve got you’re back on multiple layers, from call blocking features on Android to scam alert to monitor phishing links in texts and social media to remote access scam protection.