Online Safety for Older Adults
This guide is written for UK residents who want to use the internet safely — without needing any technical knowledge. It covers the scams most commonly targeting older people, the five habits that prevent most problems, and the steps you can take today to protect yourself and your family.
Why older adults are targeted
Criminals specifically target older adults because they are statistically more likely to have savings, be home during the day to answer calls, and respond to authority figures. This is not a reflection of intelligence — these scams are designed by professionals to be convincing.
Common Scams Targeting Older People
HMRC tax scam calls
A caller claims you owe unpaid tax and threatens arrest or court action. HMRC never makes threats by phone and does not demand immediate payment by gift card or bank transfer.
Bank impersonation calls
Caller claims to be from your bank's fraud team and asks you to move money to a "safe account". Your bank will never ask you to do this. Hang up and call the number on your card.
Courier fraud
Someone claiming to be the police tells you your bank account is compromised and asks you to withdraw cash for a courier. This is always fraud. The police never do this.
Computer support scams
A caller or pop-up claims your computer has a virus and asks you to download software or pay for repairs. Legitimate companies do not contact you this way.
Romance scams
Someone meets you through social media or a dating site, builds a relationship, then asks for money for an emergency. Action Fraud receives thousands of these reports each year.
Five Habits That Prevent Most Problems
Take your time
Scammers rely on urgency. A real problem will still be real tomorrow. Say "I will call you back" and hang up. Genuine callers will not mind.
Verify independently
Never use contact details from the message or call. Look up the real phone number yourself — on a statement, on their official website, or on the back of your card.
Never share passwords or PINs
Your bank, HMRC, the police, and any legitimate organisation will never ask for your full password or PIN. If anyone does, it is a scam.
Call a trusted person first
If something feels wrong, call a family member or friend before taking any action. A second opinion is free and often catches scams.
Report everything
Report scam calls to Action Fraud (actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040). Your report helps protect others.
Three Things to Set Up on Your Device
These take 15 minutes and significantly reduce your risk:
- 1Turn on automatic updates — so your phone, tablet, or computer always has the latest security fixes (Settings → Updates → Automatic)
- 2Set a PIN or fingerprint lock on your phone or tablet — so if it is lost, your information stays private
- 3Enable two-factor authentication on your email — this stops criminals accessing your account even if they know your password
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common scams targeting older people in the UK?
The most commonly reported are: HMRC phone call scams (threatening unpaid tax), courier fraud (fake police asking for cash), bank impersonation calls, investment scams promising high returns, and purchase scams on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree. All rely on urgency and authority.
How do I spot a scam phone call?
Real organisations — including your bank, HMRC, and the police — will never call you and ask you to transfer money, withdraw cash for a courier, share a password or PIN, or buy gift cards to pay a debt. Any call that does any of these things is a scam. Hang up and call the organisation back using a number you find independently.
How can I help elderly parents stay safe online?
Agree a simple phrase or code word to use if either of you is not sure whether a call or message is genuine. Set up two-factor authentication on their email. Enable automatic updates on their devices. Talk through the most common scam types so they know what to look for. Make it easy for them to call you before acting on any unexpected message.