Helping a Senior With Limited English Avoid Scams: A Guide for Families and Their Older Adult Loved Ones

About 25.5 million people in the United States speak English less than very well. Among Americans aged 65 and older, about 17% speak a language other than English at home. About 8% have limited English. These older adults are at higher risk for fraud for three reasons. Scammers know that a phone call in someone’s first language feels more trustworthy. Government agencies are easier to impersonate when the senior is less familiar with how they really work. And shame and fear of authorities mean that many losses are never reported. This page is for two readers at once. If you are an older adult who speaks some English but feels more comfortable in another language, this page tells you what to do. If you are an adult child or grandchild helping a parent or grandparent with limited English, this page tells you how to be the bridge.

Was someone targeted? If someone is scaring you on the phone right now and asking for money: hang up. Call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. They can get a free interpreter in more than 200 languages. Or call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). It is also free and has many languages available.

One promise that is always true: The real IRS, Social Security, USCIS, ICE, Medicare, and police never call you and demand money. They never ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash. If anyone says they are from one of these agencies and they ask for money or threaten you, it is a scam. Hang up.

Why This Section Is in English

This is a small nonprofit website. We do not have the resources to translate every page into every language. The federal government does this much better than we can. Below we list the official government resources in other languages. We also publish a one-page Spanish/English emergency card you can print and keep near the phone. We hope to add more languages over time.

If you read English well enough to understand this page, please share it with family members and friends who do not. If you do not read English well, please call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 and ask for an interpreter. The call is free. The interpreter is free. Eldercare Locator can speak to you in more than 200 languages.

Federal Resources in Your Language

These websites and phone numbers are run by the U.S. government. They are free. They are official. Use them.

Spanish (Español)

Chinese (中文), Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, and other languages

Phone numbers with interpreters in many languages

  • Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 — interpreters in 200+ languages, free. The most important phone number for this page.
  • National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 — multilingual
  • 1-800-MEDICARE: 1-800-633-4227 — many languages available
  • SSA: 1-800-772-1213 — many languages available
  • IRS: 1-800-829-1040 — Spanish line is 1-800-829-1040 then press 2

Three Scam Types That Hit Limited-English Seniors Hardest

1. Government impersonation in your own language

Scammers call you in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, or your own language. They say they are from the IRS, the Social Security Administration, Medicare, ICE, or USCIS. They say there is a problem. They say you owe money. They say you will be arrested. They say your benefits will stop. They ask you to pay by gift card, wire, or cryptocurrency. All of this is a scam. Real government workers never call this way. Read more: Language-Specific Tax and Benefits Scams.

2. USCIS, ICE, and immigration scams

Scammers call and say they are from USCIS or ICE. They say your visa is in danger. They say you will be deported if you do not pay. They offer to help with citizenship for a high fee. They offer to file forms only a real lawyer or USCIS-approved person can file. In Hispanic communities, some of these scammers call themselves “notarios” — but in the United States, a notario is not a lawyer. Read more: USCIS and Immigration Scams.

3. Family emergency and grandparent scams

Scammers call and pretend to be your grandchild, son, or daughter. They say they are in jail, in the hospital, or in a foreign country. They say they need money right now. New artificial intelligence tools can copy a real family member’s voice from a short video on social media. Even if the voice sounds real, hang up. Call the real family member at their normal number. Read more: AI Voice Cloning and Grandparent Scams.

Three Rules That Stop Almost Every Scam

  1. Hang up. A real bank, real government agency, or real family member will not be angry if you hang up and call back. Hanging up is free. Hang up first, then verify.
  2. Pay nothing. No real government office asks for gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, or cash through the mail. If anyone asks for these things, it is a scam.
  3. Call someone you trust. Before you send any money, call a son, daughter, grandchild, neighbor, or trusted friend. Tell them what is happening. If they tell you it is a scam, listen to them.

For Adult Children and Grandchildren

If you are reading this for an older family member who speaks limited English, here are three things you can do this week:

  • Save the emergency numbers in their phone. Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116). National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11). Your own number, with a simple name like “Daughter” or “Son.”
  • Print our Spanish/English emergency card at this link. Tape it next to the phone or put it on the refrigerator.
  • Make a deal: “Before you pay anyone, call me first.” Promise to answer when they call. This single agreement stops many scams.

Other guides on this site that may help:

What to Do If a Senior Has Already Sent Money

Acting fast matters. Banks can sometimes stop transfers in the first 24 to 72 hours. After that, it is much harder.

  1. Call the senior’s bank or credit union. Ask the fraud team to try to stop the transfer.
  2. Call 1-833-FRAUD-11 (DOJ National Elder Fraud Hotline). They have help in many languages.
  3. Report at ic3.gov (FBI). The FBI can sometimes recall recent wire transfers.
  4. Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov (FTC). The Spanish version is reportefraude.ftc.gov.
  5. Save everything — texts, emails, phone numbers, receipts. Take photos.
  6. Read our First 24 Hours After Being Scammed Emergency Guide for the full list.

And watch for a follow-up scam. After someone is scammed, other scammers may call and offer to “get your money back” for a fee. No real government office or company charges to recover stolen money. Any such offer is another scam.

Help Us Reach Other Families

If a senior in your family was targeted by a scam, your story can help others. We do not use your name. Share your story here.

Need help reporting a scam? Our Report an Online Scam page lists the right phone numbers and websites.

Not sure what a word means? Our Scam & Cybersecurity Glossary explains common words in plain English.