How to help your parent avoid scams

Seven kind, practical ways to help a parent avoid scams, from a family word to a rule that nobody pays alone. No lecture needed.

Last updated November 7, 2026

You cannot watch your parent's phone all day, and you should not try. What helps is a few habits agreed on ahead of time, so that in a scary moment the plan is already made.

Seven things that work

1. Start with respect. Say, "These scams fool smart people every day." Never say, "You should know better."
2. Pick a family word. One word that anyone in the family can ask for on a call. If the caller cannot say it, hang up.
3. Agree on a "no-pay-alone" rule. Money over a set amount, or any gift card, wire or crypto request, gets a second person first.
4. Make a callback list. Write the real numbers for the bank, the doctor and each family member on a card by the phone.
5. Teach one sentence. "Let me call you back on the number I have." Practice it once.
6. Say you will never be upset. People hide scams out of shame. Tell your parent that telling you early is the best thing they can do.
7. Have a plan for after. Know the steps in what to do if you have been scammed before you need them.

Where PonchoGuard fits

PonchoGuard is a second pair of eyes for your parent. They paste in a text or email, or share it from another app, and get Scam, Suspicious or Looks OK, with one reason. One tap on Ask my family sends the question to you. Your parent keeps the final say.

It works on Android, iPhone, Windows and in Chrome and Edge, and a phone line for landlines. See getting started.