Blocking fraud calls requires a combination of technology tools, behavioral changes, and built-in device features that work together to filter out unwanted callers before they reach a person with dementia. The most effective approach uses your phone’s native call-blocking capabilities—available on both iPhone and Android—combined with apps designed to identify suspicious numbers in real time. For example, when Margaret’s family discovered she was receiving repeated calls from numbers claiming to represent her bank, asking her to “verify her account,” they enabled Do Not Disturb mode on her iPhone and added those numbers to her blocked contacts list, which immediately stopped the calls from ringing through and kept her from accidentally answering. Beyond device settings, your phone carrier offers free or low-cost call-filtering services that screen calls before they arrive.
AT&T Call Protect, Verizon Call Filter, and T-Mobile Scam Shield all work in the background to identify known spam and fraud numbers, reducing the volume of suspicious calls before a person with dementia ever sees them on their screen. These carrier services are often more effective than app-based solutions because they filter at the network level, not just on the device. A third layer of protection involves explicit communication—teaching caregivers, family members, and people with dementia themselves what to say when calls arrive. The simplest rule: never give out personal information, bank details, or passwords over the phone, even if the caller claims to be from a trusted organization. If doubt exists, hang up and call the organization back using a phone number from their official website or a recent bill.
Table of Contents
- Why Are People with Dementia Targeted by Fraud Calls?
- Understanding Do Not Disturb and Silence Unknown Callers
- Using Built-In Call Filtering and Carrier Services
- Installing and Configuring Third-Party Call-Blocking Apps
- What to Do If a Scam Call Gets Through
- Physical Phone Options and Simplified Devices
- Setting Up a Contact List and Communication Protocol
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are People with Dementia Targeted by Fraud Calls?
Scammers specifically target older adults and people with cognitive decline because they’re more likely to disclose sensitive information, follow instructions from authority figures, and fall for emotional manipulation tactics. A person with early-stage dementia may not remember that they already spoke to a caller yesterday, so they’re more vulnerable to repeated pitches. Scammers also exploit the natural politeness of many older adults—they’re raised to be helpful and cooperative, making them less likely to abruptly hang up or refuse a caller’s request.
The financial impact is severe. The FBI reports that elder fraud victims aged 60 and older lose an average of $14,000 per incident, and many incidents go unreported because victims are too embarrassed to tell family members. One common scam involves a caller claiming to be a grandchild in trouble abroad, asking for money to be wired immediately—victims with dementia often don’t remember recent conversations with their grandchildren and can’t verify the story quickly enough to question it.
Understanding Do Not Disturb and Silence Unknown Callers
Do Not Disturb mode, available on both iPhone and Android, blocks all incoming calls except those from contacts in your phone—it doesn’t delete calls, it just silences them and routes them to voicemail. On iPhones running iOS 13 or later, the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature goes further: it automatically sends any call from a number not in your contacts directly to voicemail, so the phone never rings at all. This is powerful for dementia care because it removes the temptation to answer an unknown number. A limitation of this approach is that legitimate callers—doctors’ offices, pharmacies, utility companies—will go straight to voicemail, and a person with dementia might not check voicemail regularly or remember how.
Family members need to periodically check the voicemail box themselves and return important calls. Additionally, if a person with dementia calls you from a borrowed phone or a phone they don’t regularly use, you might not recognize their number and could inadvertently be blocked. Some phones also allow you to create an “emergency contacts only” configuration, where only specific numbers can reach the device even when it’s in Do Not Disturb mode. This is useful if a person with dementia tends to panic during emergencies and you want immediate family to be able to reach them at any time, while still blocking all other callers.
Using Built-In Call Filtering and Carrier Services
Your mobile carrier provides network-level call filtering at no extra cost or for a small monthly fee—typically $3 to $5. AT&T Call Protect (free or AT&T Call Protect+), Verizon Call Filter (free or paid), and T-Mobile Scam Shield work by analyzing calling patterns, known scam databases, and robocaller signatures to flag suspicious numbers before they ring your phone. The service marks spam calls with a visual indicator, or blocks them entirely depending on your settings.
Carrier-level filtering is more effective than app-based filtering because it catches calls before they hit your device, reducing battery drain and network load. However, carrier filters sometimes catch legitimate calls—a small business or nonprofit might be mistaken for spam—so family members should periodically check the spam or filtered folder to ensure important callers aren’t being blocked. One family discovered their mother’s doctor’s office was being silenced because the office calls from different clinic locations that appeared similar to spam patterns.
Installing and Configuring Third-Party Call-Blocking Apps
Apps like RoboKiller, Nomorobo, and Whoscall add another layer by using artificial intelligence and crowdsourced data to identify spam calls and block them before they ring. These apps work on top of your carrier’s filtering and offer customizable rules—for example, you can allow calls from specific numbers or require callers to say their name before connecting. Nomorobo is free; RoboKiller starts at $3.99 per month.
The tradeoff is that third-party apps require installation, setup, and sometimes subscriptions—for a person with dementia, this adds complexity. Apps can also drain battery and may interfere with other phone functions if misconfigured. A more practical approach for many families is to rely on the carrier service and the phone’s native Do Not Disturb features, then add third-party apps only if those prove insufficient. For example, if you live in an area with exceptionally high robocall volume, RoboKiller’s AI-powered screening might justify the $3.99 monthly cost; if you’re receiving only occasional spam, the built-in carrier filter and contact blocking are likely enough.
What to Do If a Scam Call Gets Through
If someone with dementia does answer a fraud call, the critical action is to not panic—the scammer is counting on emotional urgency to override rational judgment. Teach family members and caregivers a simple response: “I need to hang up now and verify this information,” then hang up immediately and call back the official number. Do not follow any instructions from the caller, such as going to an ATM, wiring money, or buying gift cards.
A common warning sign is when a caller says “Don’t hang up” or “Don’t tell anyone”—these are explicit manipulation tactics used by scammers. Another red flag is when a caller asks for payment in gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, as these are difficult to reverse and untraceable. If you suspect a fraudulent call has reached a person with dementia, check their bank and credit card accounts immediately for unauthorized activity, and consider placing a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). One family ignored an initial “grandchild emergency” call, but a follow-up call two days later caught their mother during a moment of confusion, and she sent $2,500 before the family discovered the fraud.
Physical Phone Options and Simplified Devices
For people with advanced dementia who don’t need all smartphone features, a basic phone with minimal calling capability can eliminate the scam risk entirely. Companies make phones specifically designed for seniors—devices with large buttons, simplified screens, and the ability to program in only a few trusted contacts. These “grandma phones” have no internet access, no apps, and no possibility of being tricked into sharing personal data through a call.
The downside is that families lose the ability to reach the person via text or reach them if they’re away from a designated phone. Some families compromise by providing a basic phone for when the person with dementia is away from home, and using more advanced safety monitoring (like wearable medical alert devices) to maintain emergency contact. An example is a person whose early-stage Alzheimer’s progressed to the point where they could no longer recognize scammers; the family switched her to a phone that could call only her three children, her doctor’s office, and 911, and the calls stopped being a risk.
Setting Up a Contact List and Communication Protocol
Create a written and digital contact list for a person with dementia that includes only trusted numbers—family members, the doctor’s office, a neighbor, and emergency services. Program these numbers into the phone with clear names (for example, “Daughter Mary” or “Doctor Smith”). Place a written list near the phone as a backup, in case the person forgets how to access contacts.
Establish a family protocol for how to respond when someone with dementia receives an unexpected call. For example: “If someone you don’t know calls asking for money or personal information, say ‘I need to ask my daughter’ and call [Family Member] immediately.” Caregivers and family members should periodically remind the person of this protocol, not as a one-time conversation but as an ongoing, gentle reinforcement. One family recorded a short message and played it back weekly: “If you don’t know the caller, don’t give them information—ask them to call back, then check with us first.” This simple routine reduced the stress of unexpected calls and made the person feel more in control of their own phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I completely block all unknown callers?
Yes, using “Silence Unknown Callers” on iPhone or the equivalent Android feature. The trade-off is that legitimate callers like doctors and businesses will go to voicemail, so you’ll need to check voicemail regularly.
Is paying for a premium call-blocking app worth it?
For most people, the free carrier filtering plus built-in phone features are sufficient. Premium apps like RoboKiller add more sophisticated AI filtering but cost $4–12 per month; use them only if spam volume is very high.
What if my parent gave out their social security number to a scammer?
Contact the Social Security Administration immediately, place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion), and check bank and credit card statements for unauthorized activity. Consider monitoring their credit for the next two years.
Can I block all calls except family members?
Yes, use Do Not Disturb with “Favorites” or “Contacts” exception mode, or switch to a basic senior phone with only family numbers programmed in.
Should I tell my parent their contact information was used in a scam?
Only if necessary to explain what’s happening. Frame it simply: “Someone is calling people and pretending to be from the bank. It’s not real. If they call, hang up.” Avoid details that might create more anxiety.
