How to Prepare Your Family for Scams, Emergencies, and the Unexpected
As much as I’d love to keep my head firmly in the sand, the older I get, the more I realize that being prepared isn’t optional. Scams are getting sharper, emergencies happen without warning, and loved ones I care about have been victims of fraud. That changes how you look at things. I get scam texts and emails all the time, and while they’re sometimes obvious, others are clever enough to make you pause. It’s not pleasant to think about, but it feels even worse not to.
I’m not approaching this from a place of fear. I simply want my family to have a plan so they’re not scrambling if something happens. It’s the same reason I carry insurance or make sure the car has gas before a long drive. These little safeguards give me peace of mind, and they may one day protect the people I love.
Here are a few of the measures I’ve put in place, and some I am still working on. You may already do many of these, but if not, consider this a gentle nudge.
Online Safety Habits
Scammers thrive on panic. If an email or text feels urgent or threatening, I remind myself to pause. No legitimate company will punish you for hanging up and calling back.
Text Scam
Here’s an example of a scam text I receive regularly. You can see that it went out to a large group of people’s phone numbers. If you click this link, you are opening your phone to the scammers who can steal your information. Don’t even be tempted to text back…just delete and label junk. And no, Amazon will never text you about a recall, but I’ve gotten several texts that claim just that.
Email Scam
Here’s a common type of email scam I get regularly. No, I did not order anything from this company, so I was immediately suspicious. When you check the sending email, you see a nonsensical email that is not associated with Intuit.
Here is another McAfee scam email…notice the email sender. The email said the email came from me to me. When I clicked on the sender’s email, I saw this [email protected]. A clear scam.
An Apple Email Scam
Another email scam claims that my iCloud storage is full and that I will lose my photos and videos. When you click the “Payment Declined” sender at the top of the email, it shows the sender’s email, which is not iCloud. Delete and label spam.
Some simple rules I live by:
- Never click on links in suspicious emails or texts.
- Use two-factor authentication when I can.
- Don’t recycle the same password for everything.
- These sound obvious, but in the moment, it’s easy to forget.
A Family Code Word
This is one of the simplest but smartest things you can do. Pick a word or phrase only your family knows and use it if something feels off.
Imagine you get a phone call from someone claiming to be your grandchild, panicked and needing money right away. AI can now copy people’s voices perfectly, so you can’t tell it’s not your loved one. Scammers prey on that instant emotional reaction. Instead of rushing, you can ask for the code word. If they can’t give it, you hang up.
I also like the idea of using it in everyday situations. If I’m out somewhere and something feels uncomfortable, I could text the word to my husband or my daughter. They would know it means I need help without me having to explain anything.
It takes all of five minutes to set up, but it could save a lot of heartache.
Keep Important Papers Accessible
I’ve learned through the years how impossible it is to make quick decisions without access to documents. Insurance information, medical cards, and powers of attorney. It all matters when time is short.
Now I keep a folder in a safe place with copies of things my family might need: IDs, prescriptions, medical information, and even bank contacts. A fireproof safe or fireproof folders are ideal, but I also tell my husband exactly where it is. There is no sense in organizing if no one else knows how to find it.
Share Health Information
I have a list of my medications and allergies with me in my purse, and my daughter has a copy as well. Phones now let you set up an emergency medical ID that first responders can access even if your phone is locked. It takes a few minutes to fill out, and it could make a difference if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Click here for directions on how to set up the emergency medical ID on an Iphone if you have one.
If you take several prescriptions or see multiple doctors, give someone you trust a list. When stress is high, small details are easily forgotten.
Talk About Financial Safety
Financial scams target older adults, like us, constantly. Teaching your loved ones to slow down and double-check before sending money is critical.
My husband and I agreed that we will never move money, send gift cards, or share account details based on a call, text, or email. If we are ever unsure, we call the company back on a number we know is real.
Passwords and Technology
Everything requires a password, and I don’t want my loved ones locked out if something happens to me. At a minimum, your spouse or adult child should know how to get into your phone, email, and bank accounts if necessary.
I keep a written list in a safe place along with instructions for my phone and email. Password managers are great if you are comfortable with them, but even an old-fashioned list is better than leaving people in the dark.
If you’re looking for a book to keep all of your passwords in one place, you may want to try this one for under $20!
An Emergency Call List
When something happens, time is everything. Create a simple contact tree that lists who should be called first, second, and third. For example, if you are unwell and cannot call for help yourself, your spouse may call one child, who then calls siblings and extended family.
This keeps communication clear and avoids confusion. You don’t want important information to get lost or for family members to hear different versions of the same story.
Have a Plan for Natural Disasters
Depending on where you live, this could mean hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, or earthquakes. Talk with your family about what to do if you need to evacuate or shelter in place.
Keep an emergency bag with basics like water, nonperishable food, medications, flashlights, and a phone charger. Know where you will go if you cannot stay in your home. Even if you never need it, having a plan will help everyone feel more secure.
A Few Final Thoughts
Preparing for scams, emergencies, and the unexpected isn’t exactly cocktail-party conversation, but ignoring it doesn’t make it go away. I’d much rather spend my time thinking about shoes or lipstick shades, but the truth is, having a plan keeps me calmer.
These little safeguards don’t take long, and they could spare my family from a whole lot of chaos one day. I’d rather roll my eyes at yet another scam text than scramble in a crisis. What about you…are you already set up, or is this one of those “I’ll get around to it” things on your list?
Jennifer, thank you for the reminders. I have been meaning to set up the emergency contact on my iPhone and this spurred me on to do that.
Lots of good info here. I get spam texts a lot. One clue that it is spam is the country code of the number texting you. There are a lot claiming you owe a traffic fine.
Yes!! Lots of scams for unpaid tolls.
Great information Jennifer. Thank you.
Thank you for posting about this. My mother is a smart woman but she fell for a scam on a Facebook post last week offering a low-cost garden cart from a trusted business for filling out a brief survey. The link went to a site that appeared to be from this business. After filling out the survey, she input her credit card information to pay for the cart and it said it was declined. Her credit card company texted her to tell her they thought she had been scammed and closed her card. She only has one card and was left waiting for another before she could purchase anything else by card.
Oh no!
At least her credit card company was on the ball and saw the scam for what it was.
Agreed
Thanks, Jennifer….this is all very important information. I have experienced a few of these and thankfully didn’t fall for them.
Must tell you that you look absolutely beautiful in the picture with your glasses on and a red sweater. What a fabulous look!!
Have a great day!
Thanks so much. Have a great day!
Great advice, thank you for taking the time to remind us of this important information! Each and every day my family receives one or more of these scams and/or calls.
They’re so prevalent! It’s disturbing so have to be on our toes.
Thank you so much for reminding us about scams & important information to keep on hand.
Great post Jennifer. Thank you.
Thank you for this insightful and important message. The idea of a family code is especially helpful!
All your scam and safety suggestions are wonderful and make a lot of sense. I just ordered the password organizer. Thank you.
I’d like to share a caring safety idea my friends and I are doing. We call it checkers. We are six widows living on the same street. All late 70’s – 80’S. Every morning we send a thumbs 👍 to each other via text. We each take turns being a captain for 2 weeks. Once everyone has checked in the captain sends a text saying all is well or something along that line. My husband passed away from a brain hemorrhage in his sleep. If he lived alone he may not have been found for days. One of the other ladies in the group has Parkinson’s and fell in the middle of the night. When she didn’t answer on checkers we went and found her on the floor.
Thank you so much for sharing your group. I think it’s brilliant!
Oh, this is such a marvelous article on important topics.
I will copy it and pass it along to friends and some
elderly people who have been caught in scams.
You can lock your credit on the credit Bureau.
My information was compromised in a data breach, and then it appeared on the dark web. A few things I would add: I have Protect My ID to watch my information, and also my Capital One card has a service that does it. They have warned me several times of strange things on my credit reports, most recently showing I retired from an employer in another state that I never worked for! I also signed up with all 3 credit bureaus and froze my credit. You can still use your charge cards no problem, but if someone tries to apply for a loan, mortgage, or a credit card, they cannot do it, only you can unlock/relock it. The other thing is to schedule Alerts on your credit cards. All of mine have an Alert that is texted to me immediately when the card is used. So I’m not finding out days later if my card number was compromised, I can tell immediately. What I also learned from Social Security is you should check your Social Security online account periodically to be sure that no one is drawing by using your Social Security number for employment (I don’t work, so there should be no income for the year). Yes, this is all extra effort on your part, but believe me, you don’t want to find out after the fact that your information is compromised.
Oh no! That’s disturbing. Checking social security is a smart idea!
Jennifer
Thank you for the excellent examples of techniques scammers use.
I’d add blocking unknown callers on the phone. This can be done by going to “settings”, clicking on “apps” and then clicking on “phone”. If the caller leaves a voicemail, you can choose whether to return the call or not.
Also, if you do answer a call from an unknown caller, do not reply YES to any of their questions. Scammers record this response and will use it to your disadvantage.
Yes I have that on my phone too. Now I just answer from numbers in my directory.
Good morning Jennifer!
Thank you for such a great blog!
May I add one? Once my dad passed away, my mum generated a one page sheet of info which she stored in an oversized prescription bottle on the top shelf of her frig. Included in the info was contact info including names and numbers of family and friends as well as a list of her current meds and medical conditions.
My niece and her husband are medics and both report that they look in a person’s frig for such info when called to someone’s home in an emergency. It’s a great idea for someone living alone and it gave me piece of mind given that I wasn’t living close by.
That’s a brilliant idea! Thanks for sharing it Sandy.
This is important information you shared. I am thankful and setting up my safeguard now.
I read your email daily. I especially enjoyed your helpful thoughts on scams.
Hi Jennifer, this post is a great service to your readers! Thank you! While I knew most of this stuff ( I worked online at a financial institution), I expect quite a few people will learn a lot from this post. Checking a URL is a quick way to find out if an email is a scam. Small differences are often the key, as scammers aim to fool people who don’t look closely. And NEVER click a link if you aren’t 100% sure of the source.
You had several great ideas in your post, such as a safe word, and keeping copies of log ins and passwords in your safe. There is also a company called RoadID that keeps all your medical info on file. You can wear a bracelet, or tag that identifies you in the event of an accident. The tag has a code on it that first responders can use when calling RoadID, that will release all pertinent medical information.
Thanks for letting us know about RoadID, it’s sounds like a very smart idea. Most of us have health issues!
Thank you for your great post today. As a “senior” I am very cautious about everything. I do know, and I’m sure you do and most people do, that your banking institution has an email where you can forward directly to them the scam emails regarding false payments/charges. Also, I have been a paypal user since its inception and they too have an email where you can send directly to them these fake notifications of payments made to companies. And never answer your phone unless you recognize the number calling you. If it’s not in your contact list and they don’t leave a message, block that number as soon as the call ends. It gets worse every day.
It does get worse everyday and it’s exhausting!
What a great list of ideas with reasons why! Thank you!!!