A few simple safeguards and honest conversations dramatically lower your parents' risk of being scammed.
What conversations protect parents best?
The most powerful safeguard is an agreement to never make a financial decision or share numbers during an unexpected call. Frame it as a household rule, not a judgment: 'If anyone calls about money, coverage, or a relative in trouble, we hang up and call back together.' Discuss real examples so the patterns feel familiar, including grandparent emergencies, Medicare card scams, and tech-support pop-ups. Reassure them that hanging up is never rude. The goal is to remove the shame that keeps seniors from reporting, so they call you early. For help reviewing a suspicious Medicare call together, call 1-800-MEDIGAP.
What money and credit safeguards should I set up?
Put structural protections in place so a single mistake cannot drain accounts. Freeze credit with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion (free), set up account alerts for large or unusual transactions, and consider a 'view-only' trusted contact on bank accounts. Many banks let you add a trusted contact who is notified of suspicious activity without controlling the money. Keep a current list of providers and plans so unexpected 'verification' calls are easy to flag. Review Medicare Summary Notices and bank statements together each month to catch charges early.
How do I lock down their phone and computer?
Reduce the volume of scam contact at the source. Enable carrier and phone spam-blocking, silence unknown callers, and register them at DoNotCall.gov. On computers, keep software updated, remove unused remote-access apps, and add a trusted family member to help vet pop-ups and emails. Teach the one rule that defeats most tech scams: real companies never call about a virus and never ask for remote access or gift cards. Bookmark official sites so they never need to search for a support number that a scammer could fake.