Steps Seniors Can Take to Prevent AI Fraud
AI-powered scams can be especially difficult to recognize because criminals can use artificial intelligence to imitate familiar voices, create realistic images and videos, and produce polished messages that appear to come from trusted people or organizations. According to a 2026 report from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, AI-enabled fraud is making scams more convincing, easier to produce, and available to criminals with relatively little technical skill. The report says adults age 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in losses to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025, although the real total may be much higher because many victims never report what happened.
Although no single precaution can prevent every scam, a combination of careful verification, secure account practices, and consultation with trusted family members or advisers can significantly reduce the risk of financial loss. Last month’s article discussed in detail a variety of methods that AI is being used to exploit seniors. The following is an overview of some of the ways to combat this type of fraud.
Pause Before Responding
The FBI’s nationwide “Take a Beat” campaign encourages people to pause before responding to unexpected requests involving money or personal information. Scammers deliberately create urgency, fear, excitement, or isolation because these emotions can cause a person to act without carefully evaluating the situation. When a caller or message demands immediate action, seniors should stop the conversation, avoid sending money, and verify the claim through a separate, trusted source. They should also discuss the situation with a family member, friend, bank representative, or other trusted person. Taking even a few minutes to slow down and investigate can expose inconsistencies and prevent a serious financial loss.
Call the Person Back Using a Known Number
Do not rely on the phone number displayed on caller ID, because it can be falsified. When someone claims to be a family member, bank employee, government representative, or company technician, end the communication. Then call the person or organization using a number from your contacts, an account statement, a bank card, or the organization’s official website.
Create a Family Code Word
Families should choose a private word or phrase that can be used during emergencies. It should not be posted online or easily guessed. When a caller claims to be a relative in distress, ask for the code word. Because a familiar voice can now be cloned, recognizing the voice alone is no longer sufficient proof of identity. The Senate report specifically highlights family code words as a practical defense against AI voice-cloning scams.
Treat Unusual Payment Requests as a Major Warning Sign
Legitimate government agencies, banks, technology companies, and law-enforcement organizations do not demand payment through: gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash delivered to a courier or wire transfers to unfamiliar accounts. A request to use one of these methods is a strong indication of fraud.
Never Give Remote Access to a Device Unexpectedly
A caller may claim that a computer, smartphone, or bank account has been compromised and offer to “fix” the problem. The scammer may ask the victim to install software or share the screen. Do not allow an unsolicited caller to access a device. Contact the company independently through a verified support channel.
Protect Financial and Online Accounts
Use a different, strong password for each important account and enable multifactor authentication whenever possible. Regularly review bank, credit-card, retirement, and brokerage accounts for unfamiliar activity. Transaction alerts can provide an early warning when money is withdrawn, transferred, or charged. The report also recommends considering a free credit freeze with each of the three major credit bureaus. A freeze can prevent criminals from opening new accounts in someone else’s name and does not affect existing accounts or credit scores.
Verify Investment Professionals and Platforms
Do not invest based solely on a social media video, online relationship, celebrity endorsement, or unexpected message. Before sending money, independently verify the adviser, broker, and company. Be especially cautious of promises involving guaranteed returns, secret opportunities, cryptocurrency, or pressure to move retirement funds quickly.
Limit Publicly Available Personal Information
Review social media privacy settings and avoid posting information that could help a criminal construct a believable story, such as travel plans, family relationships, phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, or recordings of relatives speaking. Family members should also consider how publicly shared videos and audio might be used for voice cloning.
Establish a Trusted-Contact Plan
Seniors and their families can agree that major financial transfers, unfamiliar investments, or emergency payments will be discussed with a trusted person before any money is sent. Financial institutions may also allow customers to designate a trusted contact who can be notified when suspicious activity or possible exploitation is detected.
What to Do After a Suspected Scam
Act quickly. Contact the bank, credit-card provider, brokerage, or payment service immediately and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or recalled. Change compromised passwords and preserve messages, phone numbers, receipts, emails, and screenshots. Fraud should be reported even when the money cannot be recovered. Reports help investigators connect individual incidents, identify larger criminal networks, and warn other potential victims. The Senate report notes that embarrassment and confusion contribute to severe underreporting, but emphasizes that victims are not to blame for being targeted by sophisticated criminals.
Awareness Is the Best First Defense
Although AI-enabled scams can be difficult to detect, seniors are not powerless against them. Pausing before acting, independently verifying unexpected requests, using a family code word, protecting financial accounts and estate planning information, and discussing major transactions with a trusted person can significantly reduce the risk of fraud. No single precaution will stop every scam, so protection is strongest when several safeguards are used together. Seniors should also remember that there is no shame in reporting suspected fraud. Quick action may help stop a payment, protect an account, support an investigation, and prevent others from becoming victims. By slowing down, asking questions, and verifying before trusting, seniors can make it much harder for scammers to succeed.
Drizin Law is providing this information for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion as to any specific facts or circumstances. This information is based on general principles of Nevada law at the time it was created and you should be aware laws frequently change. Moreover, the laws affecting you may differ depending on the circumstances. You should consult with a qualified attorney in your own state or jurisdiction concerning your particular situation. Review of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Lee A. Drizin, Esq. is the founder of Drizin Law and has practiced in Las Vegas for over three decades. His work focuses on probate, estate planning, trusts, and guardianship, with particular experience handling contested probate and administration matters. A UNLV graduate with a Master of Laws in Taxation from Boston University, Lee has built his career helping Nevada families navigate some of the most difficult times in their lives.
