Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Agree on a simple rule with your older family member: when an unexpected call or text creates urgency, pause, don’t respond or click, verify the story using contact details you already trust, and talk it over before taking action. The goal is to make checking easier—not to take away anyone’s independence.
How do I talk with my older parent about phone scams?
Start with a shared concern: anyone can be caught off guard by a convincing message, especially one that sounds urgent. The FTC’s Pass It On materials are designed to help people start conversations with older adults about unwanted calls and texts. You can look at them together and agree on a plan that feels respectful and practical.
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Make the plan specific. Choose a trusted person your family member can call when a message involves money, a crime, benefits, an account, or a computer problem. Keep genuine contact details for banks, service providers, government agencies, and close family members somewhere easy to reach, such as a paper list or saved contacts. Use those details to check a claim—not a number or link supplied by the unexpected caller or text.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe FTC’s Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group describes a common warning pattern: unexpected contact, pressure to act quickly, and instructions to pay or send money in a particular way. Any one detail may have an innocent explanation; the combination is a reason to stop and verify. The FTC’s advice is: “Slow down and check it out.”
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What should we do when a suspicious call comes in?
- Don’t treat caller ID as proof. A name or number that looks familiar—including a local number—can be faked.
- End the call. If it seems suspicious, hang up. For a robocall, don’t press a key to reach an operator or to try to get removed from a call list.
- Check the claim independently. If the caller claims to be from a bank, business, government agency, or a family member, call that person or organization using a number you already know is genuine.
- Talk before acting. Discuss the story with the agreed trusted person before sharing personal or financial information or sending money.
Be especially cautious when a caller says money must be moved to keep it safe. Do not transfer money in response to an unexpected call making that claim. Impersonators may invent suspicious account activity, criminal use of personal information, or a computer security problem to make the request seem urgent and protective. Secrecy, pressure, and unusual payment or money-movement instructions are reasons to stop, not reasons to hurry.
What should I do if my parent gets a suspicious text?
- Don’t reply or tap the link. A familiar company name or convincing account alert does not prove who sent the message.
- Verify through a separate route. Open the organization’s official app, type a website address you already know, or call a verified number from a saved contact, statement, or trusted source. Don’t use the text’s link or callback number.
- Report and remove it. Use the phone’s report-junk feature if available, or forward the unwanted text to 7726 (SPAM). Then delete it.
This approach works for messages claiming to come from banks, delivery services, toll authorities, and other organizations: check through a channel you chose yourself rather than the one the message provides.
How can we choose call-blocking options?
Blocking or labeling features can reduce unwanted calls, but the available choices depend on the phone and service. Review the options together on the actual device and account. No particular product is required, and blocking should not be treated as a guarantee that every scam call will be stopped.
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- Why Lively: Lively offers Jitterbug cell phones and Lively medical alert devices that can help seniors feel connected, safe and healthy
| Phone or service | Options to review | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Cell phone | Built-in phone settings, carrier services, and optional apps | Features and steps vary by phone and carrier; check what is available on that device and plan. |
| Traditional landline | Available carrier services and any built-in phone features | Options differ from those on cell phones; ask the carrier what it offers for the specific line. |
| VoIP phone | Available service-provider features and compatible phone settings or apps | Check with the VoIP provider and confirm compatibility before relying on a feature. |
Look for both blocking and call-labeling options, and decide together which settings fit your family member’s needs. The FTC points consumers to phone settings, carrier services, and available apps rather than naming one universal tool.
How should we report a phone or text scam?
- Unwanted text: use the phone’s report-junk feature or forward it to 7726 (SPAM).
- Suspected scam or fraud: report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Unwanted calls without a reported loss: FTC guidance also directs consumers to DoNotCall.gov.
Reporting is useful even if the person did not lose money. These U.S. reporting routes are for consumers in the United States.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if my family member already shared information or paid?
Respond without blame. Help them contact the relevant bank, payment provider, or organization as soon as possible, using a known official number or website—not details from the suspicious message. Report the suspected fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. What can be done next depends on what information was shared or how payment was made; reporting does not guarantee that money can be recovered.
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- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. A Tracfone plan is required to activate this device. Activating is easy, upon receipt go to Tracfone Website and select “Activate” and follow the prompts.
- 📱 Classic Flip Design & Dual Displays: Features a pocket-friendly flip design with a large internal display for easy reading and navigation, plus a convenient external preview screen to check time, incoming caller ID, and notifications at a glance without opening the phone. Sim Card Included - Separate Purchase Not Necessary
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Why a shared plan matters
The FTC identifies business and government impersonation as a prominent reported scam category. Its 2025 analysis found that reports of losses over $100,000 to business and government impersonators among adults 60 and older increased nearly sevenfold from 2020 to 2024. That figure describes this specific category of reported high-dollar losses; it is not a measure of all scam attempts or all losses among older adults.
The FTC reported about $16 billion in scam losses in 2025, compared with $12.8 billion in 2024, and cautioned that reported losses likely represent only a fraction of actual losses because many incidents are not reported. These totals are context, not a prediction about any one family. A calm, agreed routine gives someone a clear next step when a message is designed to make them act before they can check it.
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