Requests for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, or payment to prevent an immediate emergency.
Military-connected families are always welcome
FINANCIAL SAFETY WITH DIGNITY
Older Adults & Elder Fraud Protection
Scammers and exploiters often use fear, urgency, affection, authority, or isolation. This resource center helps older adults, families, and trusted caregivers recognize warning signs, protect credit and accounts, respond quickly, and connect with official help—without blame or embarrassment.
IF SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG
Safety first. Shame never.
If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911. If money was just sent, contact the bank, card issuer, wire service, gift-card company, or cryptocurrency platform immediately and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or recovered.
RECOGNIZE THE PATTERN
Warning signs deserve a calm second look.
One sign does not prove exploitation, but sudden changes, secrecy, pressure, or unexplained financial activity should not be ignored.
A new romantic interest, online friend, government impersonator, or supposed relative demanding secrecy or urgent money.
Unexpected withdrawals, unfamiliar accounts, changed beneficiaries, unpaid bills, missing statements, or sudden changes in spending.
A caregiver, relative, friend, or professional isolating the older adult, controlling access, or using money without clear permission.
Pressure to sign documents, add someone to an account, change a deed, share verification codes, or provide remote access to a device.
Calls claiming Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, law enforcement, a bank, or a technology company requires immediate payment.
ROMANCE & MILITARY-IMPERSONATION SCAMS
A relationship should never require secrecy or emergency payments.
Romance scammers build emotional trust before asking for money. Some steal the names and photographs of real servicemembers, claim to be deployed, and invent fees for leave, travel, medical treatment, packages, equipment, customs, or an emergency. A real servicemember does not need a romantic partner to pay the military for leave or to send money through a supposed military agent.
Stop and verify if the person:
- Professes love quickly but repeatedly avoids meeting or live video.
- Claims to be deployed, overseas, on an oil rig, or working internationally.
- Requests gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, cash, account access, or packages.
- Says the relationship or payment must remain secret from family or the bank.
- Introduces a fake commander, diplomat, doctor, attorney, shipping company, or financial agent.
- Promises repayment, marriage, an inheritance, a package, or a future life after one more payment.
Do not send more money to recover prior losses. Recovery scammers often contact victims again while pretending to be government agents or investigators.
A PRACTICAL RESPONSE PLAN
Six steps to protect the person, the money, and the record.
Move quickly when needed, but verify facts before accusing anyone or disputing accurate information.
Slow the moment down
Hang up or stop responding. A legitimate agency or financial institution will allow time to independently verify the request.
Call a trusted number
Use the number printed on a bank card, statement, or official government website—not the number supplied by the caller or message.
Protect accounts
Contact the bank or card issuer quickly, change compromised passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, and ask about holds, replacements, or transaction recovery.
Review credit reports
Use AnnualCreditReport.com, look for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries, and consider security freezes with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Preserve evidence
Save messages, phone numbers, usernames, receipts, account records, dates, and names. Do not continue communicating just to collect more evidence.
Report and get support
Report fraud to the FTC and appropriate law enforcement. Suspected abuse or exploitation can also be reported to Adult Protective Services.
FOR FAMILY & FINANCIAL CAREGIVERS
Support independence while building safeguards.
Begin with respect and calm conversation. Sudden financial mistakes can have many causes, and an older adult retains the right to make decisions unless lawful authority says otherwise. A trusted contact, account alerts, duplicate statements, limited transaction controls, and a properly prepared power of attorney may help—but authority must never be used for personal benefit.
- Keep the older adult's money separate from your own.
- Maintain receipts and a clear record of every transaction.
- Avoid gifts, loans, title changes, or beneficiary changes that create conflicts.
- Use CFPB guidance before managing someone else's money.
OFFICIAL HELP & EDUCATION
Start with trusted organizations.
FTC: Scams Affecting Older AdultsCurrent scam patterns, education, and reporting.CFPB: Money Smart for Older AdultsPrevent, recognize, and report financial exploitation.DOJ Elder Justice InitiativeFinancial exploitation, fraud, and reporting pathways.Federal Eldercare LocatorConnect with local aging, caregiver, and protection services.Find Adult Protective ServicesState and local help for suspected abuse or exploitation.National Center on Elder AbusePrevention, reporting, research, and local resources.
CREDIT EDUCATION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
Use the book and website to organize the recovery journey.
The Choice Credit Education Dispute Manual 2026 can help families review reports, document unfamiliar accounts, organize identity-theft records, and prepare focused disputes when reported information is genuinely inaccurate. It does not replace law enforcement, Adult Protective Services, an attorney, or professional medical evaluation.
Educational information only—not legal, medical, financial, caregiving, or credit-repair advice. Do not confront a suspected exploiter if doing so may increase danger. Reporting and protective-service rules vary by location.