According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, adults over 60 report the highest losses to tech support scams of any age group — losing over $588 million in a single year. These aren’t random numbers. Scammers deliberately target older adults, and they’re very good at it.
Why Older Adults Are Targeted
It’s not a matter of intelligence or awareness. Scammers target older adults for specific, calculated reasons:
They’re more likely to own a computer and be online, but less familiar with how tech threats work. The internet changed enormously after most people over 65 grew up. Terms like “malware,” “remote access,” and “system flags” can sound alarming even when they’re fabricated.
They’re often more trusting of authority. Scammers pose as Microsoft, the Social Security Administration, or a bank. A generation raised to respect institutions may be less likely to question someone who sounds official and confident.
They may live alone or have fewer people checking in. Isolation is a scammer’s best friend. Without someone nearby to say “wait — this doesn’t sound right,” the manipulation has more room to work.
They often have savings and assets. Scammers follow the money. Retirees with fixed incomes and built-up savings are high-value targets.
The Emotional Toll Goes Beyond the Money
The financial damage from these scams is real — but the emotional damage is often worse. Victims frequently describe feelings of deep shame and embarrassment, and many don’t report what happened because they’re afraid of being seen as foolish or incapable. That silence lets scammers continue targeting others.
What Families Can Do
Have an open, non-judgmental conversation with older family members about these scams. The best approach isn’t “be more careful” — it’s giving them a clear, simple rule they can remember: never give remote access to anyone who calls you first, and never pay for tech support with a gift card.
Better yet, set them up with background monitoring that watches for suspicious activity and alerts a real person when something goes wrong. That’s exactly what LurkAlert provides — quiet protection that doesn’t require your parents or grandparents to be cybersecurity experts.
