The goal is not to frighten someone away from technology. It is to give the family a simple verification routine before money, passwords, or personal information leave their hands.
If a call, text, email, or social message suddenly asks for money or sensitive information, stop and verify it through a second channel. Call the relative, bank, company, or agency using contact information you already trust — not the number supplied by the unexpected message.
Scammers may impersonate relatives, businesses, government agencies, or other trusted people. Agree in advance that an urgent story is never enough by itself to justify sending money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, account credentials, or verification codes.
Decide who your parent or relative will call when something feels wrong. Put that person's number somewhere easy to find. A five-minute verification call can interrupt the pressure that many scams depend on.
Use unique passwords, turn on multi-factor authentication where available, keep devices and security software updated, and treat unexpected requests for login or verification codes as suspicious.
Act quickly. Contact the bank, card issuer, payment company, or other financial provider involved and explain that the transaction may be connected to a scam. For exposed personal information, IdentityTheft.gov provides a recovery plan based on what was shared. Scams can be reported at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Teach the four common warning signs →
Source basis: Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice on avoiding scams, impersonator scams, phishing, and recovery after fraud; IdentityTheft.gov and ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Guidance checked August 31, 2026.