Scams targeting older adults increase during the holiday season, according to Dr. Angela Catic, a geriatrician at Baylor College of Medicine. She warns that while anyone can fall victim to fraud, older individuals are especially at risk as scam tactics become more advanced.
Dr. Catic highlights three common indicators of scams: high-pressure business tactics, government impersonation attempts, and romance or emotional manipulation schemes. “If people are aware of any of those three things, they should at least pause and do their due diligence looking into the situation,” said Catic, associate professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Baylor. “Scams come in so many different forms, and that’s part of what makes them hard to recognize.”
She notes that high-pressure business scams often use robocalls or spam messages urging immediate action, such as sharing passwords or personal information. “If you get one, hang up or don’t reply. Reach out if it’s a legitimate business and ask, ‘Did you try to reach out to me regarding this?’ The answer is almost always no,” Catic said.
Other frequent scams include impersonating government officials who request sensitive information—a practice not typical for real agencies—and online romance scams where scammers seek money under false pretenses. Tech support and gift card scams also see an uptick during the holidays.
Catic encourages families to talk openly with older relatives about these risks: warning them about common scam tactics and promoting regular check-ins on new friendships or online activities. “Check in with them on a regular basis. Ask what they’ve been up to, new friendships and new online activities. You want to know what’s going on so, if something happens, you can pick it up before it gets out of hand,” she said.
Medical professionals should also be alert for signs of financial exploitation among patients. “If that is occurring and you as a healthcare provider have concerns about financial exploitation, you should file a report with Adult Protective Service and encourage the older adult to go to the police,” Catic advised.
For those affected by scams—especially isolated seniors—reporting incidents promptly to law enforcement is important. Involving them in social activities may help reduce vulnerability.
“The best thing we can do to avoid being the victim of a scam is to pause and double check to see if the communication is legitimate. Nothing is so urgent that it needs to be done before taking time to confirm the legitimacy of a request,” Catic said.
