My aging parent was scammed — what to do right now

Right now

1. If a transaction is in progress, stop it — hang up, close the browser, don't send anything further.
2. Call the bank or financial institution immediately to report the transaction and ask about reversing or freezing it. Speed matters most in the first hours.
3. Change passwords on any account that may have been exposed.
4. Report it to local police — a police report is often needed for banks, credit bureaus, or insurance.
5. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and to the U.S. Department of Justice's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311.
6. Place a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus if personal information was compromised.

Preventing it from happening again

According to the National Adult Protective Services Association, most financial exploitation of older adults involves someone the person already knows and trusts, not just random scammers — worth keeping in mind as you think about safeguards. Consider talking with your parent about setting up account alerts, adding a trusted contact on financial accounts, and revisiting who has power of attorney if that isn't already in place. If you're worried this reveals a broader vulnerability — confusion, isolation, or difficulty managing finances — the Dementia Decisions hub or a conversation with their doctor may be worth pursuing too.

Sources

• Federal Trade Commission — report fraud, reportfraud.ftc.gov
• U.S. Department of Justice — National Elder Fraud Hotline, justice.gov/elderjustice/hotline
• National Adult Protective Services Association — financial exploitation overview, napsa-now.org/financial-exploitation