The phone in your mum’s hallway rings five times a day. Most calls are harmless. A few are not. Some of them are designed to part her with her savings, her details, or her trust.
If you have an older parent who still answers every call, this guide is for you. We will walk through the signs that someone is being targeted, the simple settings you can change on their devices, and the calm, kind steps you can take together to keep them safe.
None of this needs you to be tech minded. Most of it can be sorted in a single afternoon visit.
Why older parents get targeted
Scammers do not pick older adults by accident. They pick them on purpose. There are a few reasons why.
- Older people are more likely to have a landline, and landlines get harvested by cold call lists.
- Many older adults grew up trusting the voice on the other end of the phone.
- People living alone often welcome a friendly chat, which scammers use to build a hook.
- Memory loss or simple tiredness can make it harder to spot the warning signs.
UK Finance reports that fraud is now one of the most common crimes in the country, and impersonation scams are at the heart of it. The total cost of fraud against individuals is estimated at £6.8 billion a year. Many of those losses begin with a phone call to someone who never saw it coming.
This is sobering. It is also fixable. With a few practical changes, you can give your parents real protection without changing how they live.
Signs your parent may be being targeted
Scammers often work in waves. If someone falls for a scam once, their number ends up on a “live” list that gets sold on. The same person may then be called many times a week.
Watch out for these signs:
- The phone rings more often than usual, especially at odd times of day.
- Your parent mentions a “new friend” on the phone, often calling from abroad.
- Mail arrives from strange companies, prize draws, or charities you have never heard of.
- Bank statements show small payments to unfamiliar names.
- Your parent has been asked to keep a call or a payment “secret” from the family.
- They seem worried about the phone, or jumpy when it rings.
If any of these ring a bell, you are not too late. A calm conversation now can stop a much bigger problem later.
Step 1: Have a kind, no blame chat
This is the most important step, and it is also the easiest to get wrong. If your parent feels judged, they may not tell you about the next dodgy call.
Lead with care, not blame. You can say something like, “I have been reading about how clever phone scams have got, even bank staff are getting fooled. Can we look at a few quick things together?” That kind of opening puts you on the same team.
Agree on one ground rule. Anytime a call asks for money, a code, or a “secret,” they can hang up and call you first. There is no rush. There is no shame in checking.
Step 2: Use call screening on the home phone
An answerphone is one of the simplest tools to stop scam calls. It is also one of the most effective.
Here is how to set it up well:
- Make sure the home phone has voicemail or an answering machine turned on.
- Set the rings to pick up after three or four rings, not too quick.
- Encourage your parent to listen first, then pick up only if it is someone they know.
- Most family and friends will leave a message. Scammers usually do not.
If their landline is older, look at a call blocker handset. Many UK retailers sell phones that block withheld numbers and let you create a trusted contacts list.
Step 3: Change a few settings on their mobile
Modern mobiles have built in scam protection. Most people never turn it on.
For iPhone, go to:
Settings, Apps, Phone, then turn on Silence Unknown Callers. Calls from numbers not in their contacts will go straight to voicemail.
For Android, go to:
Phone app, Settings, Caller ID and spam, then turn on Filter spam calls or Call Screen. The exact name changes a little by brand.
Also check that their contacts list is up to date. Add family, friends, the GP, the bank, and the local pharmacy. Anyone in the list will still ring through, even with screening turned on.
Step 4: Register with the Telephone Preference Service
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS) is a free UK opt out for cold sales calls. It will not stop scam calls, since scammers ignore the rules, but it cuts down on the nuisance ones that crowd the phone.
You can register a landline or mobile online at tpsonline.org.uk or by calling 0345 070 0707. It takes a few minutes and lasts forever.
Step 5: Give them an easy line to use
Scammers rely on pressure. The best way to break their spell is a simple, repeatable line that your parent can say on autopilot.
Try this one:
“My son or daughter handles all of my finances. I will not be making any decisions on this call. Please put it in writing.”
Then they hang up. Honest callers will respect this. Scammers will leave them alone and look for an easier target.
Step 6: Set up a “check with me” rule for money
Most phone scams end the same way. The caller asks for money to be moved, sent, or paid in vouchers.
Agree a simple rule with your parent. No money leaves their account on the back of a phone call without a quick check with you or another trusted family member first.
You can also ask their bank to add a verbal banking marker or extra checks on large transfers. Most UK banks offer this service free of charge for older customers and vulnerable adults.
Step 7: Add a network level call filter
The best protection works in the background, before the phone even rings. Phonely’s CallGuard sits at the network level and blocks known scam numbers, spoofed caller IDs, and high risk overseas calls automatically.
That means:
- No apps for your parent to manage.
- No new handset to learn.
- No settings to keep up to date.
- Far fewer scam calls reaching the phone at all.
For families who worry about a parent picking up every call, this kind of quiet, always on protection can be the single biggest change you make.
If your parent has already fallen for a scam
Try to come at this gently. Most people feel deeply ashamed when they realise what has happened. That shame is exactly what scammers count on to stop them telling anyone.
Together, run through these steps:
- Call their bank from the number on the back of the card. Ask for the fraud team.
- Change any passwords or PINs that were shared.
- Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
- Report the number on the Nuisance Calls community database so the next person gets a warning.
- Speak to their GP if the experience has shaken their confidence. Help is available.
You are not too late. Quick action often gets at least some of the money back, and many banks will support customers who have been tricked by an impersonation scam.
The takeaway
Protecting an older parent from scam callers is not about turning them into a tech expert. It is about a handful of small, kind steps that quietly keep the phone working as it should: a way to stay in touch with the people they love.
Start with a chat. Turn on a few settings. Register with TPS. Add a network filter if you can. Then take a breath. You have just done something real for someone who matters to you.
If you would like to check a number that has been ringing a parent recently, search it on the Nuisance Calls lookup now. It only takes a moment, and it might give you the peace of mind you have been looking for.