BBB: Alzheimer Awareness Month Highlights Scam Risks for Older Adults

This Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month is a good time to revisit the scam safety advice that Better Business Bureau® promotes year-round.

Older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia may be more susceptible to scams. Scam awareness is a complex mental task, and it can be harder for those who have a condition that affects memory, thinking and behavior.
Research suggests that changes in financial decision-making and difficulty identifying scams may be very early signs of Alzheimer’s. A 2024 USC study found that those more vulnerable to financial scams had a thinner entorhinal cortex, often the first region of the brain to show changes as Alzheimer’s disease progresses. An Alzheimer’s Association study published in March 2025 found that scam susceptibility was associated with an earlier onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

Loneliness and isolation are also risk factors for older adults, who may be more willing to trust and befriend scam artists seeking their money or personal information.BBB recommends that older adults and their caregivers take time this month to familiarize themselves with common scams targeting older adults and make a plan for what to do if they receive a strange call or message.
How can older adults avoid scams?
•If something feels off, tell someone you trust. Have a family member or friend help you determine whether a message is safe and legitimate.
•Don’t give out personal information. Never share private information such as your Social Security number or Medicaid ID with a stranger over the phone or online.
•Pay and donate to familiar sources. Stick to charities and stores you know and trust. Be cautious about any unsolicited requests to donate to a new charity.
•Watch out for phone fraud. Scammers often impersonate government agents or bank
employees. Remember that caller IDs can be faked and that
government agents won’t make unsolicited calls. When in doubt, hang up and call the official source to verify who you were speaking with.
•Don’t click on links in emails or text messages, especially if you don’t know the sender. Scammers can send phishing messages that look like they come from an official source but actually contain dangerous links.
•Beware of urgent requests from strangers. Scammers might try to pressure you into an impulse decision or offer too-good-to-be-true deals. If someone wants you to spend money or do something immediately, take a step back.

How can caregivers tell if a loved one is talking to a scammer?
•Watch for warning signs. It may be time to check in with your loved one if they are receiving
frequent junk or spam calls, making unfamiliar payments, acting secretive about phone calls
or messages, or experiencing sudden financial trouble.
Talk to your loved one. Help them be as prepared as possible. Discuss what common scams
look like and encourage them to ignore suspicious messages or phone calls. Make sure they
know that you are there to help if something doesn’t seem right, and plan together for what they will do if they receive a strange call or message.
•Reduce solicitations. Register all unsolicited phone numbers on the Do Not Call registry and all unsolicited mail on the Do Not Mail registry. You can also reduce unwanted mail by registering with the Direct Marketing Association. Remove a person’s name from the credit bureau’s mailing list by calling the Consumer Credit and Reporting Industry at 1-888-567-
8688.
•Screen calls. Make sure your loved one has a working caller ID and answering machine. Advise them not to answer the phone for people they don’t know, and remember that caller ID can be spoofed. If someone is a frequent target for spam calls, you may need to help them change their phone number.
•Discuss financial security. In some cases, it may be helpful to have a calm discussion with your loved one about helping them secure their accounts and monitor their finances to prevent and identify scams.
Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia from the Alzheimer’s Association.
BBB has more resources for older adults. If you or a loved one encounters a scam that targets
older adults, report it to BBB Scam Tracker.
Don O’Brien is the regional director for the Quincy Better Business Bureau. Contact him at:
[email protected]) or 217-209-3972.