Keep your Grandma Safe

Meet Margaret. She’s 78, loves knitting, watching game shows, and recently started using her new tablet to keep in touch with her grandkids. What she didn’t expect was an email telling her she had “won a $5,000 gift card”—and all she had to do was click a link.

Margaret clicked. And just like that, a scammer gained access to her email account and began impersonating her to ask family members for money.

Unfortunately, stories like Margaret’s are becoming all too common.

Scammers often target seniors because they are trusting, less tech-savvy, and sometimes isolated. But with a little help, you can protect your grandma—and anyone else you love—from becoming a victim.

5 Ways to Keep Grandma Safe from Scammers:

1. Set Up Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Help her create unique passwords for each account and turn on 2FA. This adds an extra layer of protection—even if her password is stolen.

2. Educate Without Overwhelming
Talk to her about common scams: fake emails from banks, “tech support” calls, or messages claiming she’s won a prize. Keep the advice simple and repeat it often in a loving, non-technical way.

3. Use Call and Email Filters
Install a spam blocker on her phone and set up filters for her email to catch phishing attempts. You can also create a safe contact list so only approved numbers ring through.

4. Check Device Security
Make sure her phone, tablet, and computer have antivirus software and that software updates are automatic. Updates often patch security holes scammers exploit.

5. Encourage a “Pause and Call” Rule
Teach her that if anything feels off—an urgent message, a strange link, a request for money—she should pause and call you before doing anything. It’s better to double-check than to act quickly and fall for a scam.

If your grandma needs more help than you can provide, please contact us here.