Protecting an older parent from scam calls

Start with a calm talk

Talk about scams as something that happens to everyone, not a test they might fail. People who feel embarrassed are less likely to tell you when something goes wrong.

Share a scam you or a friend got, and ask if they've had calls like it. Then agree on one thing: they can always check with you before doing anything a caller asks, no matter how urgent it sounds.

The tricks worth knowing

• Family emergency: someone says a grandchild or other relative is in trouble and needs money now, and asks them to keep it quiet. Voices can now be faked from a short recording.
• Government or Medicare: a caller claims to be from Social Security, the IRS or Medicare. They demand payment or personal details, or threaten arrest.
• Tech support: a caller says the computer has a virus and wants to take control of it.
• Bank fraud alert: a caller says there's a problem with an account, and asks them to read out a code or move money to a "safe" account.
• Prizes: they've won something, but must pay a fee or taxes first.

Our scam call answers explain more of these, in plain words you can share.

A few simple house rules

• Never pay a caller with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash sent by mail or courier. Real agencies and businesses don't ask for these.
• Never read out a code that arrives by text. Real companies don't call to ask for it.
• When in doubt, hang up and call back on a number you already know, like the one on the back of a card.
• Agree on a family code word for any call that asks for money in an emergency.
• Nobody gets control of the computer over the phone.
• It's always fine to hang up on a stranger. That isn't rude.

Settings that help on their phone

• Add family, friends, doctors, the pharmacy and other regular callers to their contacts, so real calls are easy to spot.
• Let numbers they don't know go to voicemail. A real caller will leave a message.
• Add their number to the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov. Scammers ignore it, but it cuts down on legal sales calls.
• Turn on the free spam call filter that many phone companies offer, and look in the phone's settings for a way to silence unknown callers.
• Ask their bank about alerts for large withdrawals, and whether you can be added as a trusted contact.

Signs something may be wrong

• They're suddenly secretive about phone calls or money.
• They're buying gift cards, or making large or unusual withdrawals.
• They mention a new friend, a prize, or an official who needs to be paid.
• They seem worried or rushed after a phone call.

If you notice these, ask gently and don't blame. The goal is to keep them talking to you.

If they've been targeted

Help them follow the steps in what to do after a scam call. Call their bank on the number on their card. Freeze their credit if personal details were shared. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

For adults 60 and older, the National Elder Fraud Hotline can help with next steps: 1-833-372-8311.

Where Nexus fits

People in your parent's contacts ring as normal, and Nexus never blocks them.

Numbers on the spam list are refused, and most callers your parent doesn't know are asked who they are before their phone rings. An automated assistant tells them the call is being screened, then asks who's calling and why. Real callers are put through, or leave a voicemail your parent can read.

Calls with no caller ID are refused. If a doctor's office calls that way, ask them to call from a number that shows.

It works on Android and iPhone. Your parent keeps their own phone number. A family member can sit with them during setup, and the guide walks through each step.

Nexus only screens phone calls. It doesn't stop scams that come by text, email or mail, so the house rules above still matter. More about how it works is on the About page.

Quick answers