Scam Red Flags: A Guide For Family Members

Spotting Trouble Without Overstepping Boundaries

“I think Mom might have gotten involved with something fishy, but I’m not sure…”

“Dad mentioned winning something, but he won’t tell me what he had to pay to claim it…”

“Grandma has always been so careful with money, but now she’s suddenly secretive about her finances…”

These concerns come up in our conversations with families all the time. You notice something that doesn’t seem quite right, but you hesitate to say anything. After all, your loved one is an adult who deserves respect and privacy. Yet that nagging feeling persists—what if they’re being targeted? What should you actually be looking for? And how do you help without making them feel like you’re treating them like a child?

These questions led us to create the GranGuard Scam Red Flags Checklist—a thoughtful guide to help you navigate this delicate territory.

What Is the Scam Red Flags Checklist?

The Scam Red Flags Checklist is a thoughtfully designed reference guide that helps family members identify potential security concerns affecting seniors without overreacting to normal changes that come with aging.

Unlike general scam warnings or invasive monitoring tools, our checklist focuses on observable patterns that might warrant a friendly conversation. It provides clear distinctions between normal aging changes and genuine security concerns, helping you respond appropriately without unnecessary alarm.

Who Needs This Checklist?

This checklist is especially valuable for:

• Adult children who live at a distance from aging parents
• Family members who notice subtle changes in a senior’s financial or communication habits
• Caregivers who want to remain observant without overstepping boundaries
• Anyone who has thought, “Something doesn’t seem quite right, but I’m not sure if I should be concerned”

Why Traditional Approaches Fall Short

Many existing resources for protecting seniors from scams have significant limitations:

• They focus only on the scams themselves, not on how to identify vulnerability
• They suggest monitoring that can feel intrusive and undermine trust
• They don’t distinguish between normal aging changes and security concerns
• They provide few practical conversation starters when concerns arise

Our Red Flags Checklist addresses these gaps by providing concrete, observable indicators organized by category, clear distinctions between normal and concerning changes, and specific next steps if patterns emerge.

Key Areas Covered in the Checklist

The checklist is organized into four main categories, making it easy to use as a reference:

1. Financial Concerns

Indicators related to account management, spending patterns, financial communications, and decision-making that might signal vulnerability to scams.

2. Digital Concerns

Signs related to account security, device issues, email management, and online activities that could indicate increased digital vulnerability.

3. Communication Concerns

Patterns involving phone habits, mail handling, in-person interactions, and emotional changes that sometimes accompany scam victimization.

4. Understanding Normal vs. Concerning Changes

A helpful side-by-side comparison that distinguishes normal aging changes (like simplifying financial arrangements) from potential security concerns (like inability to explain recent financial decisions).

How to Use the Checklist Effectively

The Red Flags Checklist works best when used with these principles in mind:

1. Review periodically, not obsessively – Schedule occasional check-ins rather than constant monitoring.
2. Look for patterns rather than isolated instances – One unusual transaction isn’t necessarily cause for concern, but a series might be.
3. Respect privacy while remaining observant – Focus on observable behaviors without prying into private matters.
4. Start conversations from a place of curiosity, not accusation – “I noticed… I’m curious about…” rather than “Why did you…?”

If You Notice Patterns: Next Steps

If you do spot concerning patterns, the checklist includes a four-step approach:

1. Document observations with specific dates and details
2. Start a conversation using the suggested conversation starters
3. Assess the risk by evaluating awareness and capacity
4. Implement appropriate support based on the level of risk