Elderly parent being scammed? What to do, in order

Short answer: first stop the money: call the bank or card company's fraud department using the number on the card or statement. Save every message, receipt and phone number. Then report it: the U.S. Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-FRAUD-11, or 833-372-8311) helps families report fraud against anyone 60 or older, and you can also report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, ic3.gov for internet scams, and to local police. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Finding out a parent has been scammed is upsetting for everyone, and many parents feel embarrassed and want to keep it quiet. Acting quickly and calmly, without blame, gives the best chance of stopping further losses.

This page is general information to help you organize and report, not legal or financial advice. For legal steps, such as questions about a power of attorney or recovering money, talk to an elder law attorney. Phone numbers and websites were checked on the official government sites on October 9, 2026.

1. Stop the money

• Call the bank, credit union or card company's fraud department using the number on the back of the card or on a statement, not a number the scammer gave.
• Tell them what happened and ask what they can do about recent transfers, cards and online access.
• Stop contact with the scammer: no more payments, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or "fees," whatever the story.

2. Save the evidence

Before deleting anything, write down or screenshot:

• Dates and times of every contact, and how it happened: phone, text, email, social media, in person.
• Names, phone numbers, email addresses, websites and usernames the scammer used.
• Every payment: amount, date and method (bank transfer, gift card, wire, check, cryptocurrency), with receipts and gift-card numbers.
• The story they told: who they said they were and what they asked for.

3. Report it

• National Elder Fraud Hotline (U.S. Department of Justice): 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern. It's free and for fraud against anyone 60 or older; a case manager helps you report at the federal, state and local levels.
• Federal Trade Commission: report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: for scams that happened online, file at ic3.gov.
• Local police: file a report and ask for a copy or report number for your records.
• If personal information was stolen, such as a Social Security number, see the FTC's IdentityTheft.gov for recovery steps.
• If someone your parent knows may be taking advantage of them, contact your local Adult Protective Services. Your Area Agency on Aging can point you to it; find yours at eldercare.acl.gov or 1-800-677-1116.

4. Watch for the second scam

Scam victims are often targeted again by "recovery" scammers who promise to get the money back for a fee. The FBI's IC3 says it never contacts people directly for information or money and doesn't work with law firms or crypto services to recover funds, and the Department of Justice warns that scammers have posed as the Elder Fraud Hotline itself. If someone calls offering to recover money, hang up and contact the agency yourself using its official website.

5. Help protect your parent going forward

• Talk without blame. Scammers are professionals; embarrassment keeps people from reporting the next attempt.
• Agree on a simple rule: nobody legitimate demands payment by gift card, wire or crypto, or insists on secrecy. When in doubt, hang up and call family.
• Ask the bank what account alerts and protections they offer, and whether your parent can name a trusted contact.
• Keep a short record of accounts, cards and who to call in an emergency, somewhere safe. The free binder below includes an insurance and ID sheet and a contacts page for exactly that.

If the scam was a sign that managing money has become harder, these may help next: 10 signs your elderly parent needs help and how to talk to elderly parents about accepting help.