How to Protect Loved Ones From Estate-Related Scams
We live in a hyper-connected digital world and it’s no secret that our information is bought and sold by scammers, no matter how cautious we are. The good news is, understanding and preparing for these scams can help you protect yourself and loved ones even if the scammer has some of your information already.
Scams that target the elderly and families in the estate settlement process continue to soar: according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Americans aged 60 and older lost more than $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023 alone, with this trend continuing upward in 2025.
We’ve identified the top five scams targeting older adults and families in the estate settlement process this year and have practical steps you or your loved ones can take to stay safe.
The best preventative measure is always consistent communication with trusted family members or friends. If you’re ever unsure that you might be target for a scam – talk to someone so they can help.
- Tech Support Impostor Scams
One of the most prevalent scams in 2025 involves fraudsters impersonating tech support representatives from well-known companies like Microsoft or Apple. They reach out via phone calls, pop-up warnings, or emails, claiming that a device has been compromised by a virus or that there’s an urgent software issue.
If you receive one of these messages or warnings – it is most likely a scam.
How to Protect Yourself:
– Hang up on unsolicited calls from tech support agents.
– Change your password or passcode for your Apple, Microsoft, or other accounts immediately to ensure that the current password wasn’t compromised.
– Contact Apple, Microsoft or other account support and inform them of the potential scam. They will be able to check to see if there is truly an issue with your account and advise you of next steps.
– Never give remote access to your computer unless you initiated the support call with a verified source.
– Never click on a pop-up warning. Legitimate companies do not use aggressive messaging to solicit support services.
– Talk to a trusted friend or family member before making payments or clicking links. - Investment and Cryptocurrency Scams
Investment scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrency like Bitcoin are on the rise and targeting elderly individuals through fake advisors, fraudulent trading platforms, or even romantic partners. In 2023, seniors lost more than $1.2 billion to such scams, a major increase from just two years prior. Fraudsters may take time to build trust by messaging you on social media like Facebook, Instagram, or even via email to prove they are a “real person”.
How to Protect Yourself:
– If the fraudster is claiming to be an investment advisor, ask them for their full name, business name, email address, and FINRA broker credentials. Then research the firm – never click on any links they send you.
– Avoid investment offers that promise guaranteed or outsized returns.
– Verify credentials of any advisor or platform through FINRA’s BrokerCheck.
– Don’t mix love and money—romance scammers often merge emotional manipulation with financial fraud.
– Use only regulated financial services and platforms. Never agree to transfer financial information or cryptocurrency directly to anyone. - Romance & Grandparent Scams
Romance scammers often establish long-distance online relationships, slowly gaining trust before requesting money for emergencies, travel, or investments. Meanwhile, grandparent scams have taken a frightening turn with the advent of AI-generated voice technology. In 2025, criminals can now mimic a grandchild’s voice, calling to claim they’ve been in an accident or arrested, pleading for immediate financial help. The voice on the phone call can be indistinguishable from a family members voice. Romance scammers can even attempt to connect with families that have just lost their loved one, claiming they were a partner of the deceased.
How to Protect Yourself:
– Never send money to someone you’ve never met in person.
– Ask detailed questions if you receive an urgent call from a family member and verify their identity.
– Create a family “safe word” system to confirm identities in emergencies.
– Be suspicious of emotional manipulation, especially when paired with requests for gift cards, money transfers, or sending financial information
– Consult a trusted friend or family member before making emotional decisions involving money. - Government Impersonation & Social Security Scams
Posing as officials from the IRS or Social Security Administration, scammers use fear and intimidation to extract personal and financial information from elderly victims. They may claim the victim owes back taxes, their Social Security number has been compromised, or that their benefits will be suspended.
How to Protect Yourself:
– Never answer calls from unknown numbers. Let it ring to voicemail and listen to the message. Answering the phone can signal to scammers that the phone number is active, encouraging more scams.
– Know that the IRS and SSA will never call you to demand payment.
– Never provide personal or financial info to unsolicited callers.
– Beware of pressure tactics, such as threats or promises of increased benefits.
– Verify official correspondence by contacting government agencies directly through official websites. - Debt Fraud
Debt fraudsters can target both elderly individuals and families navigating the estate settlement process. This scam involves contacting an individual claiming a debt is owed and demanding payment, often threatening fees or additional penalties. This type of scam can be difficult for families who’ve recently lost a loved one and published a public notice to creditors.
How to Protect Yourself:
– Coordinate with family to agree on a mailing address where creditor claims can be sent to.
– If a creditor notice has been published in a newspaper, inform the potential creditor which newspaper. The creditor can look up and follow the instructions posted.
– NEVER agree to a debt claim from a phone call. Always require “proof of valid debt” be sent to the mailing address you’ve determined.
– Never verify personal details of yourself or the deceased, such as name, SSN, DOB, etc. If a debt is valid, the creditor will have all of the required information and you can just advise them to send information to the mailing address for further review.
Last Thoughts
1. Communicate and Collaborate with Family Members: Document your debts, assets, and other general information using a platform like One Step After to track which creditors, government agencies, or other communication might be valid.
2. Talk Regularly: Maintain open lines of communication with family and friends. Isolation increases vulnerability.
3. Report Suspicious Activity: File reports with the FTC, local police, and IC3.gov if you suspect a scam.
4. Don’t answer the phone for unknown numbers: Let unknown phone numbers go to voicemail and suspicious texts. You can verify the caller and call them back if the call was real.
5. Designate a Financial Advocate: Choose a trusted person to help manage or review financial transactions.
About the author: Chris is the Founder of One Step After, an online estate organization software for seniors planning their estate and for families navigating the after-loss process. One Step After empowers families to collaborate on estate details to make estate organization easy and cost effective.
If you have any additional questions please contact us at Colorado Estate Services.