Protecting Vulnerable Elders from Scam Texts Requires Layered Digital Defenses

Scam texts present a significant financial threat to older adults, particularly those experiencing memory issues or cognitive decline. The problem is exacerbated when individuals, like an 81-year-old woman with mild dementia mentioned in one case, fall victim to malicious links and recurring charges despite built-in phone filters.

This situation necessitates a multi-layered approach to digital security, focusing on making risky links harder to access and unauthorized purchases more difficult to complete. The goal is not to make individuals perfect at identifying scams but to reduce the number of opportunities for exploitation.

Smartphone Settings for Enhanced Protection

For iPhone users, Apple's Screen Time feature offers Communication Limits, which can restrict contact to only saved contacts during specific periods. This requires ensuring iCloud Contacts are enabled and setting a Screen Time passcode that only the caregiver knows. Downtime can be scheduled, with options to allow communication only from specific trusted contacts during these periods.

While iPhone's spam text filtering can sort unknown senders, it does not prevent them from being viewed. To mitigate this, caregivers can turn off the Messages badge notification, which can reduce the urge to check filtered messages.

For Samsung Android devices, ensuring the latest software updates is crucial. Google Messages offers spam protection that can be enabled, and users can block and report spam texts directly within the app. Samsung phones also provide Caller ID and spam protection features within the Phone app, with options for stronger blocking of suspected spam calls.

Digital Wellbeing and parental controls on Samsung phones can help limit app usage. App timers can be set for applications like Messages, and Google Family Link offers more comprehensive controls over app installs, screen time, and account management.

Carrier and Financial Safeguards

Cellular carriers can offer additional layers of protection. Contacting the carrier to inquire about enhanced SMS spam filtering, blocking known scam senders, restricting premium SMS, or even changing the phone number in severe cases can be beneficial.

Removing saved credit card information from digital wallets like iPhone Wallet, Safari's autofill, Samsung Wallet, and Google Wallet is a critical step. This adds friction to the purchasing process, preventing a single tap from resulting in a charge. If essential purchases are still necessary, using a separate low-limit card or a prepaid card can contain potential damage.

Banks and credit unions may offer specific tools for elder protection. Caregivers should inquire about real-time transaction alerts, the ability to add a trusted contact to the account, lower credit limits, merchant blocks, online transaction restrictions, and verbal confirmation for unusual charges. Establishing a trusted contact can provide financial institutions with a point of contact if suspicious activity is detected.

Legal and Broader Protection Measures

For situations where an elder's ability to manage finances is significantly impaired, consulting an elder-law attorney about a financial power of attorney may be necessary. This legal tool can provide a framework for managing finances and preventing further exploitation.

Locking down email, subscriptions, and browser accounts is also important. This includes checking for forwarding rules, saved passwords, browser autofill settings, and recurring subscriptions across various platforms like app stores and payment services. Clearing browser history and site data can also remove remnants of past scam pages.

Purchase restrictions can be implemented on both iPhones through Screen Time and on Android devices via Google Play's authentication requirements. These measures help prevent accidental app installs or in-app purchases driven by scam texts.

Finally, considering identity theft protection services and data removal services can help monitor for misuse of personal information and reduce the amount of data available to scammers online. Antivirus software with phishing protection and safe browsing features can also add a layer of security against risky links and malicious downloads on both smartphones and computers.