Holiday Scam and Fraud Prevention for Seniors in Denver, CO

Holiday Scam Risks for Seniors in Denver—And How Families Can Stay Ahead of Them

On a snowy December afternoon in Denver, it is common for phones to ring with "delivery alerts," emails to announce fake prize winnings, and doorbells to chime with surprise charity solicitors. For older adults, especially those living alone in neighborhoods from Park Hill to Highland, this constant stream of contact can blur together—and that is exactly what scammers count on.

Industry research shows that seniors are disproportionately targeted for fraud during the holidays, when emotions run high and people are more likely to give, click, or respond quickly. Denver families often juggle ski trips, school breaks, and holiday gatherings, meaning fewer eyes on day-to-day mail, calls, and online messages their older loved ones receive.

This is where steady support makes a difference. With consistent senior care and in-home help, there is more time to sort mail together, double-check charities, and slow down before responding to anything that sounds urgent or confusing.

Dementia Vulnerability

Seniors living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia face added risk from scammers, especially when holiday routines change and more calls, deliveries, and visitors appear. The Alzheimer's & Dementia Care | Home Instead | Denver, CO team sees how cognitive changes can make it harder to spot red flags or remember advice that was clear a week ago.

Cognitive changes may affect:

• Judgment and risk awareness. A senior who was once very cautious may now believe a caller who claims a grandchild is in trouble or that a "charity" needs cash right away.
• Short-term memory. Someone may not remember that a family member already paid a bill, leading them to send money a second time after a convincing scam call or email.
• Ability to manage technology. Newer smartphones, tablets, and email layouts can be confusing, increasing the chance of clicking on a fake shipping link or opening a harmful attachment.
• Impulse control. Dementia can reduce the "pause" that used to keep a person from acting on pressure or emotional appeals.

Families in the north and central Denver metro area often tell us they feel torn: they want their loved one to stay independent, but they worry every time a new "urgent" letter or message arrives. Dementia-aware support can ease that tension.

Practical steps that help:

• Designate a "money buddy." Make it a house rule that your loved one checks with one trusted person before donating, buying gift cards, or sharing banking details.
• Limit exposure. Use call-blocking features and unsubscribe from junk email lists to reduce the volume of risky contacts.
• Use visible reminders. Post a simple sign by the phone and computer: "Never give card numbers or Social Security over the phone. Hang up and call family."
• Bring in dementia-aware in-home support. A Care Pro offering specialized dementia care can help screen calls, sort mail, and gently redirect conversations away from scammers.

Family Checklist

Denver's holiday pace can be fast: shopping in Cherry Creek, concerts downtown, and family flying in and out of DIA. Before the season ramps up, sit down with your older loved one and work through a simple safety checklist.

Key items to include:

• Phone safety plan. Agree that your loved one will not answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them know it is fine to ignore voicemails that sound pushy or upsetting until you listen together.
• Mail and package routine. Decide where mail will be stacked and who will review it. Many families ask a Care Pro providing personal care to separate clearly legitimate bills and cards from suspicious offers or donation requests.
• Giving boundaries. Help your loved one choose 1–3 legitimate charities to support this year, then agree that all other requests will be politely declined.
• Technology checkup. Update antivirus software, strengthen passwords, and enable two-factor authentication on important accounts before the busiest shopping days.

Once you have a plan, write it down in plain language. Put a copy by the phone and another near the computer or tablet. This is especially helpful if multiple family members, neighbors, or in-home caregivers are helping so everyone follows the same rules.

Red Flags

Most holiday scams in Denver share a few common traits, whether they arrive by phone, email, text, or a knock on the door. Teaching these warning signs can give seniors a quick mental checklist when something does not feel right.

Big red flags to watch for:

• Pressure and urgency. Phrases like "act now," "final notice," or "your grandchild will be jailed" are designed to trigger panic. Legitimate organizations—including charities, utility companies, and government offices—do not demand on-the-spot payment under threat.
• Requests for gift cards or wire transfers. Scammers often ask for payment via gift cards bought at local grocery or big-box stores along I-25, or through wire transfers and cryptocurrency. These methods are hard to trace and nearly impossible to reverse.
• Unsolicited tech help. Calls claiming to be from "computer support" or emails warning that an account will be closed unless you click a link are classic phishing attempts.
• Typos, odd grammar, and generic greetings. Many fake shipping or charity emails use "Dear customer" instead of your name and contain spelling errors or strange phrasing.

Remind your loved one: scammers are skilled at sounding friendly, polite, or even authoritative. The red flags are in what they ask for, not always in how they sound.

Charity Verification

Many Denver seniors are generous givers, especially during the holidays. Scammers know this and create fake charities or copy the names of real ones, sometimes even stopping door-to-door after a snowstorm when neighbors seem more trusting.

To encourage safe giving:

• Slow the process. No one should ever feel pressured to donate immediately. Encourage your loved one to say, "Mail me information" or "My family helps me with donations; I will check with them."
• Go directly to the source. Instead of clicking links in emails or responding to phone calls, type the charity's web address yourself or call a published phone number to confirm any request.
• Confirm local organizations. Many Denver-area dementia and aging nonprofits, such as those highlighted by Talk About Dementia, provide clear contact information and donation instructions on their official sites.
• Check payment methods. Real charities accept checks or secure online payments in the organization's name. They do not request payment to an individual, ask for cash pick-up, or insist on gift cards.

Some families pick one afternoon in early December to sit with their loved one, review all donation letters, and decide together which causes to support. This turns a risk point into a meaningful tradition.

Fraud Response

Despite everyone's best efforts, scams sometimes slip through. Maybe a fake shipping text was especially convincing, or a frantic phone call about a "relative in trouble" caught your loved one while they were tired or alone on a dark December evening.

Quick, calm action can limit damage:

• Stop the money flow. If gift card numbers were given, save the receipts and card numbers and contact the card issuer immediately. For bank or credit card transactions, call the bank's fraud line and ask them to freeze or monitor the account.
• Change passwords. If your loved one clicked a suspicious link or shared login details, update passwords for email, banking, and shopping accounts from a different, secure device.
• Report the scam. Adult protective services in the Denver metro area and local law enforcement want to know about scams that target older adults. Guidance from Arapahoe County emphasizes reporting suspected mistreatment or exploitation so patterns can be investigated.
• Offer reassurance, not blame. Many seniors feel embarrassed after being scammed. Remind them that scammers are professionals and that asking for help now is what matters.

If a Care Pro, neighbor, or another family member spots something suspicious, encourage them to speak up quickly. Early detection can mean the difference between a minor hassle and a crisis that disrupts the holidays.

Special Considerations for Seniors with Dementia

Seniors in Denver living with dementia often experience the holidays differently. Extra decorations, visitors, and noise can be disorienting. Add more phone calls, deliveries, and online offers, and it becomes much easier for a scammer's message to slip through unnoticed.

Person-first, dementia-aware strategies include:

• Simplify the environment. Reduce visual and auditory clutter near phones and computers. A quiet, well-lit spot makes it easier to hear details clearly and think through what is being asked.
• Create a "safe list" of contacts. Program family members, doctors, and key services into the phone with photos or large print labels. Teach your loved one that if a caller's name is not on that list, it is okay to let it go to voicemail.
• Use routines. Align tasks like checking mail or email with existing daily routines. A Care Pro providing dementia care can review items at the same time every day, catching suspicious patterns early.
• Lean on local dementia resources. Organizations such as Dementia Friendly Denver and the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter (which offers a 24/7 helpline) provide education and support that can complement in-home safety efforts.

These approaches protect your loved one without constantly telling them "no" or taking away all decision-making. The goal is to preserve dignity and autonomy while quietly closing off the paths scammers rely on.

Supporting Family Caregivers

For many family caregivers in the north and central Denver metro area, December is the busiest month of the year. You may be shoveling snow, coordinating medical appointments before the end of the insurance year, attending school concerts, and trying to keep cherished traditions alive. Staying on top of every call, email, and mailer your loved one receives is a heavy lift.

Signs the load is becoming too much include:

• Constant worry about "what might happen" when you are not there.
• Difficulty sleeping after hearing about the latest scam alert on the news.
• Irritability or guilt when yet another piece of suspicious mail turns up on the counter.
• Feeling you must be available 24/7 to answer your loved one's questions about calls and requests.

No one can manage all of this alone, especially during the holidays. Many Denver families find relief by sharing responsibilities with trusted in-home support.

How added help can ease caregiver stress:

• Reliable second set of eyes. A Care Pro can help monitor for fraud attempts during regular visits, freeing you from feeling like you must catch everything yourself.
• Time for your own errands and rest. With consistent 24-hour care or scheduled daytime support, you can step out without worrying that a scammer might strike while you are gone.
• Help reinforcing safety rules. Care Professionals can gently repeat agreed-upon guidelines about donations and phone calls, which is especially valuable when memory is changing.

When to Seek Professional Help

Some situations call for more than occasional check-ins. In Denver's winter months, shorter days and icy roads can make it harder for family to visit as often as they would like, increasing both isolation and vulnerability to fraud.

It may be time to consider additional in-home care when:

• Scam attempts are frequent. Your loved one is getting multiple suspicious phone calls or emails each week, and you cannot keep up with monitoring them.
• There have already been losses. Money has been sent to a scammer once or more, even after you have talked through safety steps.
• Cognitive changes are progressing. Dementia or mild cognitive impairment is making it hard to remember instructions or recognize risky situations.
• You are nearing burnout. Your stress level feels unsustainable and is affecting your health, work, or other relationships.

Professional support can be tailored to your family's needs:

• 24-Hour Care. Continuous in-home presence is especially helpful for seniors who are frequently targeted or who answer every call, day or night. Around-the-clock support also adds safety during winter storms or power outages.
• Personal Care. Help with bathing, dressing, meals, and light housekeeping naturally includes time to sort mail, accompany your loved one to the bank, and support safe holiday shopping routines.
• Dementia Care. Specialized dementia-aware care supports decision-making, reduces confusion, and creates a calmer environment where scams are less likely to succeed.

How Home Instead in Denver Can Help

Home Instead serving the north and central Denver metro area partners with families to keep older adults safe, connected, and respected during the holidays and all year long. Our Care Pros are trained to support senior safety in practical ways, including helping to prevent holiday scams targeting seniors.

During visits, our care team can:

• Answer or screen incoming calls and help your loved one respond only to trusted contacts.
• Sort mail and email, setting aside anything that looks suspicious for family review.
• Support online shopping and bill pay so your loved one can enjoy the convenience of technology with less risk.
• Reinforce family safety plans around donations, gift cards, and financial decisions.

For seniors living with memory changes, our dementia-aware Care Professionals bring patience, repetition, and calm reassurance—essential ingredients when scammers are trying to stir up fear and confusion. And with options like 24-hour care and day-to-day personal care, we can adapt support as needs change through the season.

The holidays in Denver should feel warm and bright, not filled with worry about who might call next. With a clear plan, shared responsibilities, and the right in-home support, your family can focus more on meaningful time together—and far less on guarding against scams.