Why this matters
Scammers use urgency and emotion, which are especially effective when judgment and recall are impaired.
Warning signs
- Frequent calls from unknown numbers
- Gift card purchases or wire transfers
- Mail solicitations and sweepstakes
- Talk of a grandchild in trouble or a computer problem
What families can do
- Register on the Do Not Call list and enable call blocking
- Remove the answering machine from the main line if needed
- Reroute mail solicitations
- Establish a rule: no financial decision without calling a family member first
- Set purchase and transfer limits with the bank
When to get help
- Report to the Illinois Attorney General consumer fraud hotline
- Contact the bank immediately after a suspected transfer
- Report identity theft to the FTC
Medically reviewed. Last reviewed August 2026. This page is educational information, not individualized medical advice.