Elder Abuse Prevention & Protection

As scams continue to become more convincing and sophisticated with the use of technology, there are a few proactive measures you can take to protect your loved one from those who may seek to take advantage of them. In 2023, the reported losses from elder fraud were reported to exceed $3.4 billion. Measures such as establishing safeguards, education, and maintaining community engagement can help protect seniors and the elderly from being victimized. 

Dedicate time to teaching the elderly person in your life about common scams such as tech support fraud, government impersonation, bank scams, romance scams, and other similar instances of fraud. Teach them that requests for wire transfers or gift cards, random threats, demands for secrecy, and implied urgency are all red flags for potential scams and fraud. Tech literacy is also important, so make sure your loved one knows how to identify phishing emails, fake URLs, and any potential social media scams. You can also share information about AARP’s Fraud Watch Network and FBI updates about top scams. 

Establish safeguards that make it more difficult for personal information to be obtained by strangers and scammers. If there is any mail in the house that has sensitive information, shred it so that it isn’t easily accessible by others who may visit the home. Remind seniors and elderly loved ones to avoid providing Social Security or Medicare numbers unless the request can be verified. If your loved one has online accounts and digital assets, safeguard them by ensuring they are stored in password managers and utilizing two-factor authentication whenever possible. You can also freeze credit reports to ensure that scammers don’t have unauthorized access to open new accounts. 

Bank and credit card statements should be checked on a regular basis to identify any unexpected withdrawals or payments to unknown payees. It can also be helpful to contact the bank to ask if they offer any elder fraud monitoring services that can notify you of suspicious activity across accounts. If there are any unexpected demands for payment from companies or institutions, contact them directly using official numbers listed on their verified website instead of other numbers provided by unidentified callers. 

Maintaining consistent social interaction and reducing isolation can reduce vulnerability to scams. Let your loved one know that if they encounter any unexpected requests or unusual activity, they can contact you to verify whether it’s a scam or actually legitimate. Additionally, many senior communities have scam awareness programs to educate residents about fraud and scams, which can further reduce the likelihood of scammers taking advantage of your loved one. 

Sources

“Scam and Fraud Prevention”. National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/older-adults/money/management/avoiding-scams/ 

“The Top 7 Elderly Scams in 2025 and How to Avoid Them”. Achieve Homecare Agency. https://achievehomecarenj.com/the-top-7-elderly-scams-in-2025-and-how-to-avoid-them/ 

“Helping your elderly and vulnerable loved ones avoid scammers”. J.P. Morgan. https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/fraud/fraud-mitigation/helping-your-elderly-and-vulnerable-loved-ones-avoid-the-scammers 

“22 Tips for Seniors to Avoid Scams”. National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/article/22-tips-for-seniors-to-avoid-scams/ 

“AARP Fraud Watch Network”. AARP. https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline.html

Seniors and elderly individuals can protect themselves from healthcare fraud by taking proactive steps to safeguard their personal information, monitor bills and statements for services, and maintain awareness of common scams. It is estimated that $60 billion is lost annually to Medicare fraud, abuse, and errors which impact access to care and negatively affect finances. The scams associated with heathcare fraud are becoming increasingly more convincing, often posing as fake medical equipment offers or resulting in identity theft and billing fraud. 

Since scammers often claim to be government agents or even healthcare providers, seniors and elderly need to be especially vigilant regarding their Medicare card and number. Unexpected calls, emails, or interactions that demand this information or suggest urgency in providing it should always be recognized as a red flag for a potential scam. Phone calls or emails from individuals claiming to represent Medicare or an insurer should not be responded to without appropriate verification. It is recommended to decline speaking with these unidentified individuals and contact Medicare or the insurance provider using the official numbers or websites provided on the back of the cards. 

Statements or medical bills should generally be shredded after review to avoid identity theft. Prescription labels, insurance forms, and other documents that contain personal information should also be shredded. Billing fraud is a common scam, so Medicare Summary Notices should be reviewed to identify any duplicate charges, unfamiliar provider names, or services that were’t received. If there are any discrepancies, these should be reported. Maintaining a personal record of prescriptions that were dispensed and medical appointments that were attended can be a vital source of information to cross-reference against statements and bills. 

It is also important to maintain awareness of common scams, especially as they continue to change and evolve over time. Unsolicited offers for screenings, medical equipment, or similar services are usually fraudulent billing scams. Legitimate opportunities and programs usually require approval from a physician, so it may be helpful to verify with a healthcare provider about the nature of these unexpected offers. Likewise, unsolicited offers for medication are also a cause for concern; medications should only be purchased from pharmacies to avoid the risk of counterfeit drugs and fraud. 

Taking additional measures such as registering on the National Do Not Call Registry and attending Senior Medicare Patrol fraud prevention workshops are proactive ways to reduce scam calls and maintain awareness. If you suspect that fraud and billing errors have occurred, there are many resources available for additional support. These include contacting Medicare directly, the FTC, HHS Office of Inspector General, and state programs provided by the Senior Medicare Patrol.

Sources

“Medicare Fraud, Errors, and Abuse: How Older Adults Can Protect Themselves”. National Council on Aging. https://www.ncoa.org/article/medicare-fraud-and-abuse-how-seniors-can-protect-themselves/ 

“Health Care Scams Cost Medicare Beneficiaries Billions”. Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas. https://aaact.org/2019/08/08/protecting-seniors-from-health-care-fraud/ 

“Medicare Fraud Scams Target Seniors and Expose Personal Information”. Thomson Reuters. https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/investigation-fraud-and-risk/fraud-scams-targeting-seniors/ 

“5 Ways Seniors Can Protect Themselves From Health Care Scams”. Cigna. https://newsroom.cigna.com/5-Ways-Seniors-Can-Protect-Themselves-From-Health-Care-Scams 

“Protect Yourself and Loved Ones From Medicare Fraud”. Senior Medicare Patrol. https://smpresource.org/