September is National Preparedness month, and the question isn’t if scammers are going to target older adults but when. It’s important to be prepared for criminals when they come knocking. Fraudsters are capitalizing on sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) technology and emotional manipulation to steal billions. In fact, the FBI reported that in 2025, adults aged 60 and older suffered $7.7 billion in losses to scams.
Northwest Bank is highlighting three common scams targeting older adults and how to take action against them.
Protecting our customers from fraud is one of our highest priorities. Scammers continue to evolve their tactics, which is why education and awareness are so important. We encourage customers to stay cautious, ask questions and contact our team whenever something feels suspicious.
1. Family emergency and grandparent scams
Grandparents are often some of the most supportive and generous family members – which is why this scam is particularly malicious. Fraudsters call the grandparent and impersonate a grandchild or other close relative and claim they have been arrested, are being held captive, or were in an accident. These calls are hyper-realistic thanks to AI voice-cloning technologies. Then, they bully the grandparent into sending money. To defend against this scam, establish a family “code word” that a scammer would not know. If the caller doesn’t know the code word, hang up the phone and notify law enforcement.
2. Financial services scams
Financial services scams are becoming increasingly common and often target older adults by pretending to come from trusted organizations such as banks, mortgage lenders or debt collection agencies. Scammers call, text or email victims using legitimate-looking logos, phone numbers, and messages designed to appear legitimate. They then claim that a bank account has been
compromised and urgent action is needed to avoid legal trouble, with the intent to pressure the older adult into sharing sensitive bank information, passwords or Social Security numbers. To defend against this scam, learn to recognize if the caller is creating a sense of urgency. Don’t panic or act quickly – hang up and calmly contact the institution directly with a verified phone number. Additionally, let a trusted family member or financial advisor know about the situation, and trust their advice if they think something seems off.
3. Tech support scams
Fraudsters prey on older adults with tech support scams because they know this age group often lacks confidence surrounding technology. In these scams, a computer or phone screen will freeze or go blank, followed by a pop-up message appearing to be from a well-known company like Apple. The message will include a number for “tech support,” and the criminal will request remote access to the device. From there, the fraudster can steal personal information, install malware, and may even demand payment for “fixing” the issue. To defend against this scam, recognize that legitimate pop-up warnings will never ask you to call a phone number. If you think there’s a real issue with your computer, go to someone trustworthy, update the software, and run a scan.
Take the Next Step
If you feel you may have fallen for a scam or have questions about unusual activity, contact us directly at 1-800-678-4105 or stop by your local Northwest Bank location for assistance.
