scam type guide
elder fraud.
grandparent scams. Medicare fraud. financial exploitation.
Elder fraud targets adults 60+ through phone calls, emails, and in-person manipulation. Scammers exploit trust, isolation, and unfamiliarity with technology. Seniors lose more per scam than any other age group, with many losing their life savings.
$3.4B.
lost by adults 60+ in 2024
$25,000.
average loss for seniors
43%.
increase in elder fraud (2024)
94.5%.
suss. detection rate
red flags to watch for.
if you see any of these, suss it out before responding.
grandchild in trouble
Scammer pretends to be a grandchild in jail, in an accident, or stranded — needs money now.
Medicare/insurance call
Claims you need a new Medicare card, threatens to cancel benefits, or offers free supplies.
computer virus alert
Pop-up says your computer is infected. Calls a fake support number and demands payment.
prize/lottery winner
You won a prize! Just pay the 'taxes' or 'processing fee' to claim your winnings.
romantic interest online
New friend or romantic interest who progressively asks for money.
financial advisor pressure
Unauthorized changes to investments, pressure to move money, or new 'advisor' contact.
real examples suss. catches.
paste messages like these into suss. for instant analysis.
“Grandma, it's me! I'm in jail and I need $5,000 for bail. Please don't tell mom and dad. The lawyer's number is 555-0199. Please hurry!”
HIGH RISK — grandparent scam
“This is Medicare calling. Your current Medicare card is being deactivated. We need your Medicare number and Social Security number to issue a replacement.”
HIGH RISK — Medicare impersonation scam
real victim stories.
anonymized cases from actual elder fraud reports.
An 82-year-old received a call from his 'grandson' who was arrested. Over 3 days, a 'lawyer' collected $85K in cash delivered by courier.
Always call the real person directly. Scammers keep you on the phone to prevent verification.
A retired nurse lost $120K to a tech support scam that started with a computer pop-up. Over months, she was convinced to buy gift cards and Bitcoin.
Pop-up virus warnings are fake. Close the browser — your computer is fine.
check it now.
paste a suspicious message below for instant AI analysis.
how to protect yourself.
follow these tips and use suss. to verify anything suspicious.
Establish a family code word that only real family members know.
Medicare will never call you asking for your Medicare or Social Security number.
Hang up on urgent calls and call back on a number you trust.
Never let a caller or pop-up convince you to download remote access software.
Talk to a trusted family member before making any large financial decision.
Report elder fraud to Adult Protective Services and the FTC.
think you've seen a elder fraud?.
paste the message, email, or link into suss. for an instant AI-powered analysis. free, no signup needed.
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