A Devastating Phone Scam: What to Do When Your Loved One Falls Victim

Americans lost a staggering $3.5 billion to imposter scams in 2025, according to data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These losses are roughly three times greater than in 2020, with imposter scams being the leading cause of fraud last year. Almost one in three fraud reports related to scammers impersonating others via phone, text, or other means.

Imposter scams involve a criminal pretending to be someone they’re not, like a bank representative or government official, to convince the victim to give them money or personal details. These scams often target older Americans, but it’s not just seniors who pay the price. Young people can find themselves facing financial losses too – in some cases, because they tried to help a parent.

Rebecca’s story is a perfect example of this. Her 74-year-old mother, Sally, fell victim to a phone scam and wired $12,000 to a criminal pretending to be an FBI official trying to stop bank fraud. Since Sally didn’t have enough money in her own account to transfer the $12K, the teller asked Sally if she should use Rebecca’s linked account, and Sally agreed. Now, Rebecca is out the $12,000 and is concerned about her mom potentially making a similar mistake in the future.

Can Rebecca get her money back? Unfortunately, recovery is not guaranteed after victims have fallen victim to phone scams. The perpetrators of these scams are often outside of the United States, making it even more challenging to recover the lost funds.

Katherine A. Kiziah, a lawyer and partner at Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, explained that acting very quickly is crucial when trying to get any lost funds back. ‘The best chance for recovery is with the financial institution or company through which money was transferred. And immediate action is necessary. Every day that goes by reduces the chance of recovery.’

Kiziah recommends reaching out to the fraud department of the bank, wire service, credit card company, or app, as well as filing a police report and potentially talking with a lawyer to determine if there are any avenues for recovery. While this may not guarantee success, at least it gives Rebecca some options.

Rebecca should also take immediate steps to try to prevent further damage if her mom provided sensitive, personal information. ‘Place a credit freeze on your credit accounts with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion,’ Danny Karon, a consumer attorney, law instructor, and owner of Karon LLC, recommended. ‘That will prevent fraudsters from opening credit accounts in your name for things such as cars and homes.’

How can Rebecca help her mom avoid getting scammed again? Having difficult conversations about finances is hard for elderly parents and their adult children. Don’t place blame on your elderly parents for being the victim of scams. Approach the conversations as a partnership designed to protect their wishes and plans for retirement. Be empathetic, patient, and compassionate.

Patty Laychock, a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) and owner of Visiting Angels Senior Home Care, suggested Rebecca talk to her mom ‘early in the day or after a meal, when elderly adults are the most clear-headed.’ Rebecca should urge her mother not to answer unfamiliar numbers and never to give money or personal details to anyone based on an unsolicited call.

Lastly, Laychock advised that Rebecca may also want to get a durable power of attorney to manage Sally’s accounts, automate bills to limit the financial transactions Sally needs to take part in, set up bank alerts to monitor for unusual withdrawal activity, and limit withdrawal amounts.

Rebecca needs to separate her bank account from her mother’s so her own finances are not affected further. ‘Because scammers use tactics to trick victims into initiating real payments or providing account credentials, linking accounts would provide the scammer with direct access to the combined funds,’ Graphika intelligence specialist Angie Waller explained. ‘If a parent is identified as prone to falling victim to scams, they are often targeted repeatedly. Providing access to joint accounts extends the potential reach of these fraud operations to any funds or assets connected to those accounts.’

Rebecca should take Laychock’s suggestions and monitor her mother’s account while setting up limits, rather than co-mingle their funds directly. If she’s worried about accessing her account upon a sudden death, other tools like a pay-on-death designation are a better bet.

Hoping to help Sally learn to avoid scams going forward, Rebecca must make sure her personal assets aren’t at risk anymore, as she’s already likely lost $12,000 for good.

Protecting your savings has become just as important as growing them, especially with the rise of sophisticated online scams. Platforms like Aura offer a way to manage device and identity protection in one place, designed to help shield your household from scams, identity theft, and other online threats.