Why Cyber Scams Against Seniors is Becoming a Family Crisis – And How To Help Your Loved Ones

Why Seniors Are at Greater Risk for Cyber Scams & Threats

As seniors spend more time online and technology rapidly evolves, the scale of cyber scams and digital fraud targeting them grows at an alarming rate. 

According to data from Pew Research Center, most seniors aged 65 to 80+ are online these days — and often. They spend over six hours a day on the internet, own an average of five devices and 82% use a smartphone daily. 

Despite being more connected than ever, only 26% of seniors feel very confident using technology. Their growing reliance on digital devices — to stay in touch with loved ones and manage finances  — combined with factors like loneliness, retirement savings and a more trusting nature, leave them especially vulnerable to online manipulation and scams.  

“The truth is, most seniors have embraced digital tools, but not digital security,” says Neal Jardine, BOXX Insurance’s Chief Cyber Intelligence and Claims Officer. “That confidence gap is exactly where cyber scammers thrive.” 

The problem is made worse by a surge in AI-driven scams, weak online security and the surging amount of personal information available on the dark web. In North America deepfake fraud increased by an astonishing 1,740% in 2023 alone. Today, there are 24.6 billion sets of usernames and passwords circulating cyber crime marketplaces. With tools like deepfake voice and video technology, scammers can now convincingly impersonate loved ones, making their scams more believable – and successful – than ever.  

Top Cyber Threats Facing Seniors Online Today

Cyber criminals are constantly evolving their tactics to exploit seniors, explains Jack Brooks, Head of BOXX Hackbusters® and vCISO. 

Some of the most prevalent scams include: 

• Phishing and smishing: Scammers impersonate banks, government agencies or even loved ones via email or text to trick seniors into clicking harmful links or sharing personal information. “They create urgency with messages like ‘your account is locked’ or ‘you owe taxes’,” Brooks says. “In just the past 12 months, 1 in 4 Canadian banking customers has experience a cyber incident.” 
• Romance scams and cyber extortion: Scammers build fake online relationships over weeks or months, then convince, or extort, seniors to send money for a fake personal emergency or investment. Canadians lost over $50 million to romance scams in 2023 alone, with widowed or isolated seniors hit hardest. “The emotional fallout can be especially devastating,” Brooks adds.
• Grandparent emergency scams: Already, Canadian seniors lost $23 million to such scams. “These emotionally charged scams prey on seniors’ protective instincts, with scammers posing as grandchildren making urgent money request for emergencies like accidents or bail,” Brooks explains. With AI voice cloning and deepfakes, such pleas now sound hyper-real. A Canadian grandmother wired $7,500 to a scammer believing her grandson was in jail, only to discover it was an AI-powered scam.
• Tech support scams: Pop-up warnings claiming a computer is infected can lead seniors to call fake support lines, where scammers posing as Microsoft or Apple tech support convince them to grant remote access or pay for bogus repairs. Seniors 60+ lost $982 million to such scams in 2024; and data shows they’re 6 times more likely to fall for these scams. 

How Cyber Insurance Safeguards Seniors from Online Cyber Scams 

More adult children are stepping in to help their aging parents navigate an increasingly dangerous digital world.  

The risks are real — and rising fast. The number of seniors reporting losses over $100,000 has tripled since 2020. 

“For many families, it’s not just about protecting retirement savings, it’s about preserving dignity and preventing heartbreak,” Jardine says.  

“At BOXX, we believe prevention is better than loss,” he adds. “That’s why we combine prevention-first tools and expert support services with comprehensive insurance so families don’t have to tackle cyber threats alone.”

Predict & Prevent 

Cyberboxx® Home helps you spot and stop risks early with:

• Dark web monitoring that checks for leaked or stolen information. 
• Hacker chatter alerts that flag when a person is being targeted. 
• Cyber health checks to assess risks. 
• Education tools that empower seniors to navigate the internet safely. 

Protect & Respond 

When something goes wrong, Cyberboxx® Home provides rapid, expert help: 

• 24/7 access to Hackbusters® breach response team  — real experts who help seniors respond to and resolve cyber incidents at home quickly. 
• Expert support to help seniors identify and avoid scams, remove viruses and ransomware and restore data — online or by phone and in their local language. 
• Identity restoration and lost wallet recovery. 
• Insure with Comprehensive Personal Cyber Insurance to protect against online fraud, identity theft, cyber extortion and deception, cyber bullying or stalking, data breaches and legal costs. It’s peace of mind that goes beyond protection — it helps families recover and move forward.

“When a senior gets hit, time is critical. Our all-in-one solution with access to 24/7 breach response gives families the support they need, when they need it most,” says Jardine. 

In the last 12 months, BOXX successfully resolved over 80% of customers’ reported cyber incidents without the need to file a claim. 

“We’re not just there for a claim, we’re proactively working to predict and prevent cyber attacks from happening in the first place,” he adds. 

Do’s and Don’ts for Families: Protecting Seniors From Online Scams 

DO: 

• Talk to your parents about scams like romance scams and identity theft — and how to avoid them. 
• Offer support without judgement or victim shaming. 
• Set up strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and show them how and when to use a VPN. 
• Leverage proactive defense tools like BOXX’s identity monitoring and dark web scanning. 
• Review financial activity monthly and take advantage of BOXX’s Equifax-powered credit monitoring for real-time alerts.
• Create a family passphrase or code word for all family members to confirm the identity of a loved one in the case of an urgent situation or scam. 

DON’T: 

• Overestimate your tech skills — BOXX offers cyber training resources for the whole family. 
• Assume “my parent would never fall for it”. “Everyone can be a victim of cyber scams. If you’re online, you’re a target,” Brooks says. 
• Wait until something bad happens — predict and prevent with the right tools and insurance partner. 

“The right conversation, tools and protection can be the difference between a bad day and a life-altering financial and traumatic loss. BOXX is always here to help,” Brooks adds. 

Cyber Scams and Crime Is a Family Matter 

With the rise in cyber scams and digital fraud against seniors, awareness is no longer enough — families need to act. 

BOXX delivers a safety net backed by real people, smart tools and peace of mind to make the world digitally safer and securer for seniors. 

“Cyberboxx Home isn’t just coverage, it’s confidence. It helps families protect what matters most to the seniors in their lives: trust, independence and legacy,” Hand says. 

Whether it’s your parents, your grandparents or any older loved one in your family, staying vigilant and taking proactive steps to support them online is essential. 

With the right tools, resources and insurance protection in one place, you can shield the people you love most from today’s digital threats.