Common Senior Scams: What to Watch For and How to Protect Your Loved Ones

by Kristen Ishihara and Chris Parker with Ishihara & Parker Law Firm PLLC

In this video, attorneys Chris Parker and Chris Nishihara discuss the increasing risk of scams targeting seniors, share real-life examples of how scams are executed, and offer practical solutions to help families protect their loved ones.

Imposter Scams

Imposter scams come in many forms, and seniors are a prime target. These scams often involve:

• Individuals pretending to be government officials
• Fake representatives of trusted businesses
• Criminals posing as family members

One common scam involves a supposed deputy from the court system claiming a senior missed a subpoena and must pay a fine or face arrest. This has happened in Gregg County and is incredibly convincing because the scammers use real, public court information.

These scammers often:

• Share enough truthful details to gain trust
• Refuse to let the victim off the phone
• Demand immediate wire transfers or credit card info

Advice:
If anyone refuses to let you hang up the phone—hang up anyway. Never give out information over a call that you didn’t initiate. If someone claims to be from a government agency, hang up and call the agency yourself using a number you find—not the one they give you.

Also, do not verify personal information just because the caller has part of it (e.g., your name or last four digits of your Social Security number). That doesn’t mean they’re legitimate.

Business Imposter Scams

These happen when scammers pretend to be a business you know or are working with. For instance, during a home purchase, one of our attorneys received a completely fake email from a “title company.” It looked legitimate—but it was a scam trying to reroute a wire transfer.

Recommendation:
Never call the number listed in an email—always look up the correct number independently.

The “Relative in Trouble” Scam

Criminals can collect names of grandchildren and family info from social media. They call, using personal details, and say something like:
"Grandma, I’m in jail. I need money right now."

Seniors are tricked into wiring money to someone who isn’t who they claim to be.

Tip:
Always verify through a second family member before sending money. Don’t let a created sense of urgency pressure you into action.

AI-Enhanced Voice Scams

With modern tools, scammers can now replicate voices, making the scams even more believable. Your loved one may hear what they believe is their grandchild’s actual voice. This is dangerous.

What You Can Do:
Set a family password. If the caller doesn’t know the password—hang up.

Romance Scams

These scams often target lonely seniors, especially widows or widowers. They may be contacted online or even in person by someone who pretends to love them but is truly after money.

These scammers:

• Build relationships over weeks or months
• Ask for financial help
• Often try to physically move in and isolate the victim

Common signs include:

• Talking online with someone new for hours
• Sharing personal and financial details
• Sudden requests for money or gifts

Consider This Strategy:
Setting up a revocable trust with a child as trustee can help protect assets from being misused without removing the parent’s independence. This provides a middle-ground between no control and full guardianship.

In-Person Door-to-Door Scams

Scammers may show up in person claiming they’ll:

• Fix the roof
• Repave the driveway
• Cut down trees

They take payment upfront and either disappear or continue demanding money.

Safety Tips:

• Install video doorbells like Ring
• Encourage your loved one to never open the door to strangers
• Teach them to say, “I need to check with my child before I agree to anything.”

Stay Alert Through Local Resources

The Longview Police Department, county sheriffs, and city agencies often post fraud alerts on Facebook. These aren’t isolated events. Scammers target entire neighborhoods at once.

Following these pages can keep you informed about current threats in the area.

Building Protection Through Relationships

Prevention isn’t a one-time fix. It’s about staying connected. Think of your aging parent like your teenage child—you need to know who they’re spending time with.

• Go to church with them
• Go to the bank with them
• Meet their friends
• Stay involved

This connection allows them to come to you when something feels off.

Also, keep legal documents like Power of Attorney on file with local institutions like banks. This gives those professionals a way to delay suspicious transactions until they can reach you.

Final Thought

Most of these scams are never reported. Seniors are often embarrassed or unaware that they’ve been scammed. While today’s episode focuses on external threats, 90% of reported elder abuse is committed by family members. That’s a topic we’ll cover in a future video.

Until then, stay connected, stay involved, and stay alert.

‍