You work your whole life, raise kids, pay off the house, collect your Social Security, and just when you’re finally settling into some semblance of peace, someone tries to rob you blind over the phone.
They don’t wear ski masks. They don’t break in through the back window. They come through your inbox, your voicemail, your Facebook Messenger, and sometimes, through the voice of someone who sounds like your grandson crying for help.
The scams are no longer cartoonish. These aren’t the old “Nigerian Prince” emails we all laughed at in the early 2000s. These are sophisticated, targeted attacks. And for older adults—especially those who didn’t grow up with the internet or smartphones—they’re becoming harder and harder to detect.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t fight back. In fact, if you want to own your mind and body health, protecting your finances and mental peace from these scammers is step one.
Let’s get into the weeds of what these scams look like—and what you or a loved one can do about it.
1. Pig Butchering Scams – Slow, Strategic, and Ruthless
Let’s start with one of the nastiest.
“Pig butchering” scams involve a scammer building trust with you over time—weeks or even months. They’ll often pretend to be a friend of a friend, a romantic interest, or someone who “accidentally” texted you but stuck around for the chat. These scammers are trained. They’re patient. They’ll ask about your family, your hobbies, your health. They’ll joke with you, comfort you, even offer investment advice.
Eventually, the conversation turns to crypto. Or a “surefire” investment opportunity. They’ll guide you to put in a small amount first, which shows returns. Then a bigger one. Then they convince you to drain your retirement account. And just like that, you’re gutted. They’ve led you to slaughter—and you never saw the knife.
How to Avoid It:
Be suspicious of random texts or online connections that become overly friendly or romantic too quickly.
Never send money to someone you’ve only met online.
Don’t download apps or use investment platforms someone you’ve never met in person suggests—especially if they’re asking you to “act fast.”
2. Tech Support Scams – The Fake Panic Button
You’re sipping your coffee and suddenly your computer flashes: “YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN INFECTED. CALL MICROSOFT SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY.”
You panic. You call. A calm voice with a slight accent answers, tells you he’s a technician, and walks you through giving him remote access to your computer. You feel relieved when the flashing stops. But then you notice your bank app acting strange. Maybe your credit card gets declined. And that’s when the real cost hits you.
These scammers prey on panic. They mimic the logos of trusted companies—Apple, Microsoft, Norton, you name it—and use scare tactics to push you into handing over control.
How to Avoid It:
No legitimate tech company will ever ask you to call them out of the blue because of a pop-up.
Hang up. Close the browser. Restart your computer.
If in doubt, call the real company using the phone number on their official website or product packaging.
Never give remote access to someone who calls or messages you first.
3. Scam Calls and Robocalls – From IRS to Medicare Lies
It might be a robocall telling you your Medicare benefits are being canceled unless you press “1.” Or a man pretending to be from the IRS saying you owe thousands in back taxes. Or someone claiming your granddaughter’s been arrested and needs bail money now.
These scam calls are more than just annoying—they’re dangerous. The FTC reported that Americans lost over $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, with the most common being imposter scams.
Seniors are especially targeted because scammers assume you’re home during the day, more likely to answer unknown calls, and less familiar with call-blocking technology.
How to Avoid It:
If someone calls claiming to be from the government, hang up. No government agency will threaten you over the phone or demand payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto.
Use call-blocking apps like Nomorobo, Truecaller, or your carrier’s built-in spam filters (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all offer them).
Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov, though it won’t stop criminals—it can still help reduce legit telemarketing calls.
4. Voice Cloning and Deepfake Scams – AI in the Wrong Hands
Here’s where things get real creepy.
Scammers are now using AI to clone voices. They only need a short audio clip—sometimes scraped from social media videos, voicemails, or even TikToks—to generate a fake version of your loved one’s voice. Then they call you, pretending to be your son, your niece, your best friend. Maybe they’re sobbing, saying they’ve been in an accident or jail, and they need money urgently.
And the worst part? It sounds exactly like them.
How to Avoid It:
Always establish a family “code word” for emergencies. Something only your family knows. If someone calls in distress and doesn’t say the code, hang up.
If you get a call like this, tell them you’ll call them right back, then call the actual number you have saved for that person.
Be careful about sharing personal videos or voice messages publicly online.
5. AI Investment Bots and Fake Financial Gurus
Social media is flooded with videos of “financial experts” promising you huge returns, often with slick charts and fake screenshots. Some even use AI-generated faces and voices to seem more trustworthy. They might say they work for a hot new startup or have a “special insider tip” on a rising stock or crypto coin.
What they really want is your cash. Or your identity. Or both.
How to Avoid It:
Vet anyone claiming to offer investment advice—ask for their license number and verify it with FINRA or the SEC.
Stick to advisors affiliated with real banks or firms you recognize.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
What You Can Do:
Here’s a simple mental checklist to protect yourself or someone you care about:
Trust, but verify. Even if it sounds like someone you know—always double check.
Slow down. Scammers use urgency to bypass your better judgment.
Talk about it. If something feels off, tell a friend, your doctor, or your child. Scammers thrive in silence.
Use tech tools. Install spam call blockers, update your antivirus software, and use password managers to avoid using the same login across websites.
Freeze your credit. If you’re not planning to take out a loan, a credit freeze can prevent someone from opening accounts in your name. Go to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion to do it for free.
It is so upsetting how this is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s world. It is equally, if not more upsetting. that these scammers attack those that cannot fight back or that those who do not have the tools or resources. This blog post lists several ways to be aware and to be mindful of those wishing us to do harm. And it is equally important to understand that harm doesn’t always necessarily mean physical harm but emotional, financial and other. It saddens and sickens me to know that these people are out there doing this to all of us, regardless of who we are or what we look like. Scammers do not discriminate! Thank you for choosing to discuss and highlight this very important topic and reminder!
I think someone is trying to target me for a scam. Synchronistically, this post further raised my red flag. Thanks for that and thank you, Universe!! Yay!! A Win!!
It’s terrifying how real and sneaky these scams have become, especially when they prey on trust and panic. That bit about voice cloning? Chills. You’ve not only raised awareness but given super practical tips that anyone can follow (I’m totally setting up a family code word now). It’s scary stuff, but you’ve made it feel like we can protect ourselves and our loved ones. Sharing this with my parents ASAP—thank you for being a voice of calm in a crazy online world!
Alison, This post hit close to home. Last year, someone claiming to be from my bank nearly convinced me to share personal details over the phone—thankfully, I paused and called the bank directly instead. I’ve also had strange texts from unknown numbers pretending to be family, which made me rethink what I share online. Now I talk to my family about these scams. It’s scary how real and targeted these scams feel, but sharing stories like this makes us all a bit safer.