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The strongest protection is a plan made before a crisis: agree on who should be contacted, ask the bank or credit union about its fraud safeguards, and establish legally valid help only when the older adult chooses it. During any unexpected call, text, email, visit, or payment demand, stop and verify through an independently obtained phone number or website. If money may already be at risk, contact the financial institution immediately, preserve records, and report through the channel that fits the danger.
This guide is for people in the United States. It is designed to protect an older adult’s autonomy while giving relatives, friends, and caregivers concrete ways to recognize possible exploitation and act safely. Age alone does not establish incapacity, and a warning sign by itself does not prove abuse.
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Make a protection plan before anyone is under pressure
Planning is easier when the account holder is calm and able to make informed choices. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) jointly developed Money Smart for Older Adults, a free program covering prevention, recognition, and reporting. Its materials include a resource guide, instructor materials, Spanish-language materials, and guides for people serving as financial caregivers.
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Start with a respectful conversation
Ask what kinds of calls, messages, visits, or payment requests feel suspicious. Ask whom the older adult would want contacted if a bank, friend, or family member becomes concerned. Keep the person involved in decisions as much as possible; replacing their choices without a legal basis can increase isolation and create a different form of risk.
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A useful opening is: “Scammers often create urgency. What rule should we follow if either of us receives a frightening or unexpected money request?” Agree that either person can pause a payment and seek a second opinion without embarrassment or blame.
Designate a trusted contact for alerts
Ask the bank or credit union whether the account holder can name a trusted contact and what events would lead staff to call that person. The December 2024 interagency statement from the CFPB, FDIC, Federal Reserve, National Credit Union Administration, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and state financial regulators describes trusted-contact procedures as a way for an institution to reach someone when exploitation is suspected or the account holder cannot be reached.
A trusted contact is an alert, not automatic financial authority. Unless the account holder separately grants authority, the contact generally cannot inspect account information, withdraw money, change beneficiaries, or execute transactions. A designation therefore is not a substitute for a power of attorney, guardianship, trust authority, or another legally effective arrangement.
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If another person will manage money, identify the legal role precisely. A power of attorney, guardianship, trust, or government fiduciary appointment carries duties and limits that differ from a trusted-contact designation. The CFPB and FDIC provide free guides and training for people serving in these roles. The older adult should understand what authority is being granted, when it begins, and how it can be ended or reviewed under applicable state law.
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Ask what the institution actually offers
Request a written explanation of available alerts, account controls, transaction-review procedures, and contact rules. Features differ by institution; no single alert, hold, or monitoring service is universal. Keep the bank’s fraud department number from a statement, card, or official website rather than relying on an incoming call.
Build a pause into every unexpected payment request
Scammers try to prevent independent checking. Treat urgency, secrecy, threats, or an unusual payment method as a stop signal, not as proof that the caller is genuine.
Verify the identity independently
- End the conversation. Do not argue, press a number, click a link, or call back through the incoming message.
- Find the organization’s phone number or website on a statement, payment card, or a website you typed yourself. Do not rely on caller ID, a reply address, or a link supplied by the stranger.
- Call the organization using that independent information and ask whether the demand is real. A relative or trusted contact can sit with the older adult during the check, but should not take over without permission or legal authority.
- Wait until the facts are confirmed. A legitimate request can survive a pause; a scam depends on speed.
The CFPB warns that real government agencies and financial institutions do not threaten people or ask them to send money to “protect it.” A caller claiming to be from law enforcement, a bank, or a government office who demands immediate payment should be treated as fraudulent until independently verified.
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Recognize payment methods that are hard to undo
| Demand | Why to stop | Safe response |
|---|---|---|
| Wire transfer | Transfers may be difficult or impossible to reverse once released. | End the contact and verify through the institution’s independently obtained number before authorizing anything. |
| Gift cards | No legitimate business or government agency will insist on gift-card payment; the code can be used immediately by a scammer. | Do not buy cards or disclose numbers or PINs. If cards were purchased, keep the cards and receipts and contact the issuer promptly. |
| Cryptocurrency | Payments can be difficult or impossible to reverse and may move outside ordinary bank recovery processes. | Do not send it because of a threat, promise, or “protection” claim. |
| Unexpected check with a request to return money | A check can appear to clear and later prove counterfeit, while the account holder remains responsible for funds sent back. | Do not deposit and forward money to a stranger. Ask the bank to examine the check and explain the risk. |
Use a two-person rule for unusual transactions
The older adult can decide in advance that a large, unfamiliar, or urgent transfer will wait until a chosen contact has reviewed the request. This is a voluntary safety practice, not a declaration that the person cannot manage money. Write down the rule, the people included, and exceptions for routine bills.
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Know the warning signs of possible exploitation
One sign can have an innocent explanation, such as a move, a new caregiver, illness, or a change in ordinary spending. Several unexplained changes, especially when paired with fear or isolation, deserve a calm conversation and prompt documentation.
| What you may notice | Questions and next step |
|---|---|
| Money or property is missing, or the older adult says something disappeared. | Ask when it was last seen, who had access, and whether a transaction record or receipt can clarify what happened. Preserve the record rather than accusing someone. |
| Sudden large wires, frequent ATM withdrawals, unfamiliar purchases, unpaid bills, or rapid changes in savings. | Compare the activity with the person’s normal pattern. Ask the financial institution’s fraud department to review specific transactions. |
| A new name appears on an account, a beneficiary changes, or an unfamiliar person takes over money management. | Ask the account holder what they intended and whether they understand the legal effect. Seek legal advice if the change was not authorized or understood. |
| Statements or bills disappear. | Ask whether mail is being redirected, withheld, or managed by someone else. Request duplicate records from the institution with the account holder’s authorization. |
| The older adult fears a relative, friend, or caregiver, or someone controls visits, calls, or decisions. | Speak privately if possible, ask what would make the person feel safe, and contact Adult Protective Services (APS) when exploitation, abuse, or neglect is suspected. |
These indicators are reasons to check in and seek help, not a diagnostic test. Avoid confronting a suspected exploiter in a way that could increase the older adult’s danger or isolation.
What to do when a scam or exploitation may already be happening
1. Handle immediate danger first
Call 911 if anyone faces an immediate threat of physical harm, confinement, or medical danger. If there is no immediate danger but a crime may have occurred, contact the local police department or sheriff through its nonemergency channel.
2. Call the financial institution immediately
Use a trusted number from a statement, bank card, or official website. Explain what happened, identify each transaction and its date, and ask whether the institution can secure the account, stop a pending transaction, or request a recall. No institution is guaranteed to stop or recover a transfer, so speed matters and expectations should remain realistic.
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3. Preserve a complete record
Save transaction histories, statements, emails, texts, letters, caller numbers, usernames, receipts, gift-card information, wallet addresses, and screenshots. Write a dated timeline: what was said, who contacted the older adult, what was sent, when it was sent, and which institution was notified. Do not delete messages or alter evidence before investigators or the bank can review it.
4. Report suspected abuse or exploitation to APS
APS agencies are organized by state and locality. The CFPB directs people to the Eldercare Locator to find the appropriate office; the national number listed on its reporting resource is 800-677-1116. Explain the concrete observations, the older adult’s current safety, and any immediate financial risk.
5. Report the scam through the matching channel
| Concern | Where to report | What to include |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer scam or attempted fraud | ReportFraud.ftc.gov | Contact details used by the scammer, payment method, dates, amount, and copies of messages. |
| Internet-based crime | ic3.gov, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center | Web addresses, usernames, digital payment details, communications, and transaction records. |
| Fraud involving U.S. mail | U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 877-876-2455 | Envelopes, postmarks, letters, checks, and the financial loss or attempted loss. |
| Suspected crime in the community | Local police department or sheriff | A concise timeline, records, witnesses, and the older adult’s current safety. |
6. Use the specialized channel for fiduciary misuse
- For suspected misuse by a Department of Veterans Affairs fiduciary, contact the VA.
- For suspected misuse by a Social Security representative payee, contact the local Social Security office or the Social Security Administration.
- For concerns about a court-appointed guardian or conservator, contact the court that made the appointment.
Tell each agency what has already been reported and provide the same dated records. Keep confirmation numbers and the names of people who received the report.
7. Ask about legal help
State rules determine civil remedies, reporting duties, powers of attorney, guardianship, and whether an institution may delay a transaction. The CFPB identifies free legal services for people over 60 through the Eldercare Locator and resources for lower-income people through the Legal Services Corporation. A lawyer or legal-aid office in the relevant state can explain available remedies and deadlines.
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Understand what a bank can and cannot be expected to do
Financial institutions may be among the first to notice unusual activity. The December 2024 interagency statement discusses employee training, reporting suspected exploitation, transaction holds where permitted, and trusted-contact procedures. Some state laws permit a temporary hold or delayed disbursement when exploitation is suspected, but the conditions and timelines are set by applicable law.
Do not assume that a bank must freeze an account, that every bank offers the same controls, or that a transfer can always be reversed. Ask exactly what action is available for the transaction involved, what consent is required, how long a review may take, and what records the institution needs. A trusted contact may receive an alert under the institution’s procedure but ordinarily cannot view the account or transact without separate authorization.
Keep autonomy and safety in balance
For relatives and friends
- Use specific observations: “I saw two withdrawals on Tuesday,” not “You cannot handle money.”
- Ask permission before reviewing statements, contacting a bank, or involving another person, unless an immediate safety emergency requires action.
- Offer practical help such as sitting beside the older adult during a verification call, organizing records, or accompanying them to a police or APS report.
- Do not shame the person if money was sent. Shame can delay reporting and make future contacts harder.
For caregivers and financial helpers
- Keep the older adult’s money separate from your own and follow the exact authority granted by the legal document or appointment.
- Document decisions, receipts, transfers, and explanations contemporaneously.
- Do not use a trusted-contact designation as permission to transact.
- Report suspected exploitation even when the suspected person is a relative, friend, or caregiver.
A short script for a suspicious call
“I do not make financial decisions during an unexpected call. I will contact the organization using the number on my statement. Do not call back or send a link.” Then end the interaction. A real institution can explain the request through a channel you independently verify.
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Work through the CFPB and FDIC Money Smart for Older Adults materials with the older adult, family members, or service providers. The program’s resource guide and instructor materials cover how scams work, how to recognize warning signs, and how to report them; Spanish-language materials and role-specific financial-caregiver guides are also available. Rehearsing the pause-and-verify process before a frightening call makes it easier to follow when someone is being pressured.
Know the limits of any protection plan
No checklist eliminates every scam, and no single report guarantees recovery. State law, the payment method, timing, account terms, and the older adult’s legal arrangements all affect what can happen next. The most reliable sequence is to protect immediate safety, notify the financial institution quickly, preserve evidence, report to the agency with the right authority, and obtain state-specific legal advice when exploitation or fiduciary misuse is suspected.
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