How to stop scam texts from targeting aging parents

Key Points:

• Scam texts pose a significant financial risk to older adults with memory issues, as illustrated by Rob from Georgia, whose mother with mild dementia was repeatedly targeted, resulting in thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges.
• To protect vulnerable seniors, caregivers should use phone settings like Apple's Screen Time Communication Limits and Downtime to restrict contact to known people and reduce exposure to scam texts, while also turning off message badges to decrease the urge to check messages.
• Removing saved payment cards from phones and browsers is crucial to add friction against unauthorized purchases, alongside contacting carriers for enhanced spam filtering and banks for transaction alerts, trusted contacts, and spending limits.
• For Samsung users, enabling Google Messages spam protection, blocking scam calls, setting app timers, and using parental controls can help reduce scam exposure, while identity theft protection and data removal services offer additional layers of security.
• In persistent or severe cases, families should consider legal steps such as establishing a financial power of attorney and consulting elder-law attorneys to safeguard finances while maintaining dignity and independence.