Guides
Scam guides for families.
What the scams aimed at older adults actually look like, the words to end the contact, and what to do next. Written for you and the people you love, with every fact checked against its source.
Protecting a parent
How to help someone you love get ready for scams, in ways that respect their independence.
Start here How to protect your parent from scams, without taking over How to protect your parent from scams without taking over: one rule for money requests, six account and phone changes to make together, and a habit of practice.Scams targeting older adults
What the common scams look like, and what to say and do when one shows up.
Start here Scams targeting older adults: what the 2025 FTC data shows Most scams older adults see cost them nothing. The few that get through cost the most. Which ones, how they arrive, and the one thing to teach a parent.Phone calls
- AI voice scams: 5 ways to tell if a call from family is real AI can copy a loved one’s voice from a short clip and fake their face on video. Five checks that catch it, plus what to do if money already went out.
- Medicare scam calls: how to tell, what to say, and what to do next Does Medicare call you? Rarely, and never to sell you anything. What scam calls sound like, the line that ends them, and what to do if you gave your number.
Emails and pop-ups
- McAfee scams: how to tell a fake pop-up or renewal email from the real McAfee A McAfee alert can be the real app, a fake pop-up from a website, or a fake renewal email. How to tell which in a minute, and what to do if you paid.
- Geek Squad scam emails: how to spot a fake renewal, and what to do if you called A Geek Squad email with a number to call is almost always a scam. The one-minute check, what the call is really for, and what to do if you already called.
If it already happened
The first steps after a scam, for you or for someone you love.
Start here What to do if you've been scammed: the first hour, in order Hang up, call your bank, lock down what you shared. The first hour in order, how to ask for your money back by how you paid, and the second scam to expect.Written by Bryce Wachtell, founder of ScamPrep. Every safety step and phone number is checked against its source before a guide goes live. How we write our guides.