5 signs someone you love is being targeted by a scammer
A scam rarely announces itself. By the time money is gone, the warning signs have usually been there for days or weeks — quiet ones, easy to miss unless you know what to look for. You know your parent better than any scammer does. Here are the five signs worth paying attention to, and what to do the moment you notice them.
The five warning signs
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A new "helper" they're cagey about
They mention a technician, "someone from the bank," a support line, or an online friend who's been helping — but get vague or defensive when you ask. Scammers actively coach people to keep the relationship secret. Unusual secrecy about who they've been talking to is often the very first sign.
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Software or accounts they can't explain
You spot AnyDesk, TeamViewer, or another remote-access app on their computer, a new browser they didn't choose, or a new account they don't remember opening. The explanation is usually some version of "a nice man helped me fix a problem."
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Money moving in unusual ways
Sudden gift-card purchases, wire transfers, cash withdrawals, or talk of "reimbursing" or "refunding" someone. Watch especially for a new secrecy or urgency around money — being told to move it quickly, or not to mention it to anyone.
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Fear, urgency, and a deadline
They seem anxious about an account being "compromised," a fine or fee that must be paid today, or a warning that something terrible happens if they don't act now. Manufactured panic is the scammer's engine — it's designed to stop them from pausing to think or ask for help.
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Pop-ups, "virus" warnings, and phone numbers
They describe a scary alert on their screen, a number they were told to call, or the computer "acting strange." A genuine security warning never includes a phone number to call — that detail alone almost always means a scam.
If two or more of these are happening at once, treat it as active. A scam in progress can empty an account in a single afternoon — it's better to step in early and be wrong than to wait and be right too late.
What to do if you see the signs
The instinct is to panic or scold. Don't — shame makes people hide the problem and pull away from the one person who can help. Lead with calm and care instead:
Open the door gently
Try "I keep reading about how convincing these scams have gotten — even really sharp people get caught. Has anyone strange contacted you lately?" Make it easy to admit, not embarrassing.
Look at the computer together
Check for remote-access apps (AnyDesk, TeamViewer) and unfamiliar programs, and remove any they don't actually use.
Call the bank's fraud line
If any money moved, contact the bank right away to flag it, and ask them to watch the account. Speed matters.
Report it
File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. Reporting helps investigators and can sometimes help recover funds.
Put an early-warning net in place
Because you can't be there every day, use protection that blocks the scam sites and alerts you the moment something is attempted.
Don't rely on catching the signs in time
KinSentry blocks the remote-access and tech-support scam sites automatically — and alerts your family the instant one is attempted, so you know to check in even if nothing is said. All scanning runs on the device; it never records the screen or browsing history.