Online safety for older adults

What older adults face online that families may not always see

AI romance scams and how to protect the people you love

Loneliness is something millions of people know well, and scammers know it too. Romance scams are one of the costliest fraud types tracked by the FBI, with people over 60 reporting some of the highest per-victim losses. Today, AI-powered chatbots and deepfake video technology are being used to build fake relationships that can seem genuine over weeks or months. Understanding how these tactics work is one of the most meaningful things a family can do together.

Chatbots designed to feel like real relationships

AI chatbots can hold weeks of emotionally engaging conversation without a human ever typing a word.
They adapt to each person's replies, learning what the other person values, fears, and hopes for.
People experiencing loneliness or recent loss are often targeted based on their online behavior.
The consistency of these AI-driven conversations can seem more attentive than real human connections.

Video calls that can't always be trusted

If a contact consistently avoids video calls, citing a broken camera or poor connection, treat that as a warning sign.
Real-time deepfake technology can make a scammer appear as an entirely different person during a live video call.
A face on screen creates a sense of certainty that scammers deliberately build toward, making it harder to question what seems real.

Pushing to move off-platform fast

Scammers push quickly to move conversations from dating sites or social media to private apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
This shift can look like natural relationship progression, which is why it works.
Off those platforms, there are no fraud detection systems and fewer signals to prompt a second thought.

A sudden crisis after weeks of trust-building

After weeks or months of contact, the scammer introduces an urgent need: a medical emergency, a stranded trip, or a promising investment.
Requests typically come through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, all methods chosen because they are nearly impossible to recover.
The emotional investment built over time makes it hard to say no, even when a request seems unusual.
Scammers often return with more urgent asks after the first payment, framing each one as proof that the relationship is real.

What you can do to stay safe

Romance scams are much easier to spot once you know what the tactics look like. A few shared habits across your family can make a real difference.

Let older family members know it’s safe and welcome to share about people they’ve met online, without judgment
Ask light, natural questions about new contacts and whether they’ve appeared on a video call with family around
Keep check-ins ongoing and low-pressure; they build more safety than any single warning conversation

How TrendLife can support you

Kaleida

Every family is learning to live with AI. Kaleida helps protect, guide, and support your whole family every day.

Trend Micro ScamCheck

It's getting harder to tell what's real and what's a scam. ScamCheck uses AI to help you instantly know what to trust.