Protecting Aging Parents from Scam Texts

The CyberGuy explains how to protect yourself from scams.

Scam texts are a problem for everyone, but they can be very bad for older adults with memory issues. Rob's mom is 81 and has mild dementia. She uses her iPhone for everything and gets many scam texts. She has given money to scams and bought things she does not need. Rob is frustrated and wants to know how to stop these texts.

Rob asked for help with his mom's problem.

Rob's mom is 81 and has mild dementia. She uses her iPhone for everything and gets many scam texts. She has given money to scams and bought things she does not need. Rob wants to know how to stop these texts. He has tried using the new iOS text filter, but his mom still opens the filtered texts and looks at them.

Rob is doing the right thing by watching his mom's accounts and trying to keep her safe. But with mild dementia, reminders may not be enough. The phone needs more protection to make it harder for his mom to see risky texts and tap on links.

The goal is to make the phone safer for Rob's mom while still letting her use it for the people and services she needs.

Scammers targeted an 81-year-old woman with mild dementia, stealing her life savings.

An 81-year-old woman with mild dementia kept falling for scam texts despite iPhone filters.

A scam text may look obvious, but for someone with mild dementia, it may look urgent or harmless. Scammers rely on quick reactions, and one tap can lead to a payment page.

If your parent uses an iPhone, start with Apple's built-in Screen Time controls. The Communication Limits setting can limit who can contact your parent.

Before you start, make sure iCloud Contacts are turned on.

On the iPhone, set the Screen Time passcode yourself.

Set the Screen Time passcode to keep the settings from being changed later.

One important note: Contacts Only allows communication with people saved in Contacts.

Downtime can make the iPhone quieter during certain hours, which can help if your loved one tends to click around at night.

To turn on Downtime, go to Settings.

Then make sure trusted contacts can still get through.

This may feel restrictive, but it can protect both her money and your peace of mind.

Apple's message filtering can help, but it may not be enough if your parent can still open filtered texts and tap on links.

To check unknown sender filtering on an iPhone, go to Settings.

Then check spam filtering.

Keep spam filtering on, but do not rely on it alone.

If the red Messages badge keeps pulling your parent back into the app, turn off badges for Messages.

To turn off Messages badges, go to Settings.

She can still receive texts, but the red number will no longer invite her to hunt through filtered messages.

If your parent uses a Samsung phone, start by checking for updates.

To check for software updates, go to Settings.

Then turn on spam protection in Google Messages.

To block and report a scam text in Google Messages, go to Settings.

Scam texts are the bigger issue, but scam calls often come from the same bad actors.

On a Samsung phone, turn on Samsung's Caller ID and spam protection.

To turn it on, go to Settings.

Then turn on stronger spam blocking.

Samsung says Galaxy phones can use Smart Call to identify suspected spam callers and block spam or scam calls.

Samsung does not have the same Communication Limits setup as the iPhone, but you can still reduce risk with Digital Wellbeing and parental controls.

To set an app timer on a Samsung phone, go to Settings.

This can help reduce repeated checking or late-night clicking.

You can also explore Google Family Link if it fits your family situation.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

This may help a caregiver manage app use, screen time, and some account controls.

The next step is her cell carrier. Call the carrier and ask for the strongest SMS spam and scam blocking available.

Ask the carrier about the strongest SMS spam and scam blocking.

Changing her number is inconvenient, but it may be worth considering if her number is already circulating through scam lists.

If the texts continue, block the sender and report the message as junk.

THE ONE THING THAT COULD PROTECT YOUR PARENTS FROM SCAMMERS

Scam texts can be especially dangerous for older adults with memory issues.

This is one of the most important steps: removing saved cards adds friction that can stop a bad click from becoming a charge.

To remove cards from iPhone Wallet, go to Settings.

Then turn off saved credit cards in Safari.

On a Samsung phone, check Samsung Wallet first.

One important note: deleting a card from Samsung Wallet removes it from the phone, but it does not cancel the physical card.

Then check Google Wallet.

Also, remove saved cards from shopping sites, PayPal, campaign donation sites, and browsers.

If your parent still needs to make occasional purchases, consider using one separate low-limit card.

This can contain the damage if she clicks on another bad link.

Another option is a prepaid card with a small balance.

If you are comparing card options for an older parent, our guide breaks down features that may matter.

Banks and credit unions may offer tools that help families protect older adults from fraud.

Ask the bank about tools that can help.

Also, ask whether the bank can flag repeated political donations or recurring online charges for review.

A trusted contact can give a financial institution someone to reach if it sees warning signs.

For Rob, this could be especially useful because he already monitors his mom's accounts.

If your mom cannot remember purchases and keeps getting pulled into payment links, it may be time to talk with an elder-law attorney.

This does not mean taking away her dignity, but creating a plan before scammers drain more money.

Texts may be the entry point, but scammers often move people across email, websites, and payment pages.

Since Rob already has access to his mom's email and banking, he should also check subscriptions on iPhone and Google Play.

To check subscriptions on iPhone, go to Settings.

To check Google Play subscriptions on a Samsung phone, go to Settings.

Then check the browser history and saved payment methods.

To clear Safari history on iPhone, go to Settings.

To delete browsing data in Samsung Internet, go to Settings.

This can remove old scam pages or saved site data that your parent may accidentally revisit.

To delete browsing data in Chrome on Android, go to Settings.

This will not stop future scams by itself, but it can remove old pages that she may revisit.

If your parent uses an iPhone, Screen Time can limit purchases and app installs.

To restrict purchases on iPhone, go to Settings.

If your parent uses a Samsung phone, you can add purchase controls through Google Play.

To require purchase authentication on a Samsung phone, go to Settings.

This can help if scam texts lead her to download apps or pay for unnecessary services.

Since your mom has already been financially targeted, identity theft protection is worth considering.

Our #1 pick for identity theft protection can help monitor for signs of identity theft and fraud alerts.

Scammers often get personal information from data broker sites, old records, public listings, and marketing databases.

A data removal service can help reduce how much of her information is floating around online.

For phone and device protection, our #1 pick for antivirus helps protect devices from malware and phishing links.

On an iPhone, antivirus software works differently than it does on a PC.

Rob, start with the changes that reduce the most risk right away.

If your mom uses an iPhone, set Screen Time Communication Limits to contacts only.

If your parent uses a Samsung phone, update the phone, turn on Google Messages spam protection, and enable Samsung's spam call protection.

Next, call the carrier and ask for the strongest scam-text protection available.

Finally, talk with an elder-law attorney if the problem keeps happening.

HOW TO HAND OFF DATA PRIVACY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS TO A TRUSTED LOVED ONE

Experts recommend adding multiple layers of protection to reduce financial risk.

Rob's situation is heartbreaking because his mom likely has no idea how often this is happening.

The goal is to make the phone safer before the next scam text arrives.

A few settings can help, but the real protection comes from layering phone limits, carrier tools, payment restrictions, and bank alerts.

What steps have you taken to protect an aging loved one from scam texts, risky links, or surprise charges?

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Kurt 'CyberGuy' Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear, and gadgets.

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