How to protect your parents from today's scams
If you're worried about a parent getting scammed, you're not overreacting — the tricks have gotten very good. Here's what they actually look like, how to talk about them without pushing your parents away, and how The Good Sense Club can help them stay sharp, safe and independent.
A mission rooted in family
Our founder knows this concern firsthand.
His older parents and other family members have been scammed. Seeing people he loves go through that made him feel an obligation to help others recognize scams and understand how they work.
The Good Sense Club grew out of that experience — not to take over anyone's decisions, but to put useful knowledge within reach. Whether you're learning for yourself or sharing it with a parent, the goal is the same: more confidence, less uncertainty and respect for everyone's independence.
First, a little respect where it's due
Most scams that succeed don't trick people who are gullible. They manufacture trust, invent urgency, and lean on good manners — and those pressures catch capable people of every age. That's exactly why this site never talks down to anyone, and why a worried phone call from your kids shouldn't either.
In plain numbers
Adults 60 and over reported losing about $2.4 billion to fraud in 2024 — roughly four times the reported losses from 2020, driven mostly by investment, romance and impersonation scams (Federal Trade Commission, December 2025). And because most fraud is never reported, the FTC itself calls that only a fraction of the real total.
The scams your family should know by name
Nearly every modern con is a variation on one of these. Recognizing the pattern is nine-tenths of the defense.
The impersonated bank
A caller claiming to be from your parent's bank's fraud department, saying suspicious activity was spotted and their savings must be moved to stay safe.
The urgent family call
"Grandma, it's me — I'm in trouble and I need money now." Pressure, secrecy and love all in one phone call, sometimes with a cloned voice.
The too-good investment
Big returns, friendly explanations, small first wins. Investment and crypto pitches now cost older adults more than any other scam.
The new friend
Weeks of warm messages from a stranger who never wants to meet or video-chat — until a crisis makes money suddenly urgent.
The fake fix
A pop-up warning about a virus, a "support agent" who asks to connect to the computer, or an invoice for something that was never ordered.
The urgent text
A wrong-number text that turns friendly, a "failed delivery" link, or a text that seems to come from your own phone number.
How to bring it up without pushing buttons
Raising the topic is the hard part. These five moves keep the conversation warm — and keep your parent in the driver's seat, where they belong.
Tip 01
Share, don't warn
"I read that a call like this is going around" lands far better than "Don't ever send money to anyone." Adults learn from conversation, not correction.
Tip 02
Ask what they've seen
Your parents have dodged junk mail and door-knockers for decades. Ask what they've noticed lately — you'll be surprised how much good sense is already there.
Tip 03
Agree on a code word
Pick a family phrase together for any call about money. It takes two minutes and quietly blocks every impostor who doesn't know it.
Tip 04
Make it easy to ask
Agree on a no-shame rule: if anything feels even slightly off — a text, a call, a link — call you first. Promise there's no such thing as a silly question.
Tip 05
Let a lesson do the talking
Advice from your parents' kid can sound like a lecture. The same idea, spoken calmly by a friendly voice in a lesson, is just information — and it's on your side.
A year of good sense, one month at a time
Members get two short lessons a month — from spotting fake emails and cloned voices to protecting retirement savings, safe shopping, and talking about money and safety as a family. The first lesson is free, and every lesson is written in plain, everyday language: no tech talk, no tests, no talking down.
A clear voice reads it aloud
Every lesson is spoken by a friendly voice — volume and speed are adjustable, so listening is comfortable.
Large word-for-word captions
The words appear on screen as they're spoken — easy to follow for reading, hearing, or both at once.
Pause, repeat, go back
Simple buttons let your parent take a lesson at their own pace. No tests, no timers, no falling behind.
One thing at a time
A fresh topic opens each month, so nothing arrives as an overwhelming pile.
Questions adult children ask us
How much does membership cost?
Memberships are $5 per month, or $50 for the full year of lessons. The first lesson is free, so anyone can try it before joining. Members can cancel anytime, and the full year can be paid in one simple payment.
Can I set up an account for my parent?
The best experience is to sit down together — or send them the link and let them take the first free lesson on their own. The account is theirs; the lessons respect their independence, and so does the club.
My parent is sharp. Is this still worth it?
Absolutely — and it's worth saying so out loud. The lessons aren't about fixing anyone; they cover tricks that are new for everyone, including fake AI voices, urgent investment pitches and message-based scams that catch people of every age.
What if they'd rather not talk about it?
Don't push. Send them the site, or mention a lesson you took yourself. Many members tell us the voice in the lessons is easier to hear from than the voice on the phone — and the topic comes up naturally after that.