Lifestyle

7 Scam Calls Targeting People Over 60 Right Now

By Erica Coleman · September 22, 2026

Americans over 60 lost more than $7.7 billion to scams last year — a 37% jump over 2024, with over 201,000 reported victims and an average loss around $38,500. The real number is higher; the FTC estimates fewer than 1 in 20 victims ever files a report. Every one of the scams below is being run right now, and the FBI has identified them as the most common schemes targeting older adults.

Here are the seven your family should recognize on sight.

The government impersonator. A caller claims to be from the IRS, Social Security Administration, or Medicare and says there’s an urgent problem with your benefits, your Social Security number, or a supposedly unpaid tax bill. Payment is demanded by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Government impersonation scams generated more than 32,400 complaints and nearly $798 million in reported losses across all age groups in 2025, the FBI reported. Real government agencies never demand payment by gift card or crypto and never call to threaten arrest.

The tech support scam. A pop-up warning on your computer or a phone call claims your device is infected. The “technician” needs remote access — and once they have it, they empty your bank account. Tech support was recently the top complaint category for victims over 60 in the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports. Legitimate companies like Microsoft, Apple, and your internet provider don’t call unsolicited to warn you about viruses.

The grandparent scam. The phone rings. A voice sounding like your grandchild — sometimes convincingly generated by AI — says they’re in trouble, in jail, in the hospital, and they need money wired immediately and don’t want you to tell their parents. The FBI has specifically warned about scammers demanding funds by wire, mail, or couriers in this scheme, and AI voice-cloning is making it dramatically harder to spot. Verify by calling the family member directly on a known number before sending anything.

The investment scam. This is the biggest money drain by a wide margin. The pitch is a “special opportunity” — often involving cryptocurrency, forex trading, or an insider’s guaranteed return. Investment schemes generated more than $3.5 billion in losses from older Americans in 2025, and crypto-based scams alone ensnared more than 42,000 older victims for $4.3 billion in losses, the FBI reported. Any “guaranteed” return is a lie.

The romance scam. It starts on a dating site, on Facebook, or in a game. Weeks or months of conversation build trust. Then comes the crisis — a medical emergency, a business deal gone wrong, a stuck inheritance — that requires just this one wire transfer. Scammers rarely agree to video calls and never actually meet the victim. Once money moves, more requests follow.

The sweepstakes or lottery scam. You’ve won! You just need to pay taxes, processing fees, or “release fees” before the prize can be sent. Real lotteries and sweepstakes never require you to pay to receive winnings. If you didn’t enter, you didn’t win.

The AI-powered impostor. Voice cloning tools now let scammers replicate the voice of a family member from just a few seconds of audio pulled off social media. The IC3 received more than 3,100 complaints from seniors referencing AI in 2025, with losses exceeding $352 million, a HousingWire summary of the FBI data reported. Set up a family code word right now — a short phrase only your close family knows — and refuse to act on any urgent phone request until you hear it.

If you or someone in your family has been targeted or has already sent money, file a complaint at ic3.gov as soon as possible. The FBI’s Recovery Asset Team froze $32.9 million of $65.4 million in reported elder fraud losses in 2025 through fast intervention — but they can only help if they know.