Protecting Older Adults From the Growing Threat of Online Scams

For unsuspecting victims, a fraudulent email, phone call or online offer can have consequences that extend far beyond financial loss. Scams can jeopardize security and mental health — prompting a new Cleveland Clinic initiative focused on protecting older patients from cybercrime.

The organization’s Business Resilience Team, which prepares for potential disruptions that could affect the healthcare system’s operations or reputation, has launched a program – or pillar – to combat elder exploitation. The new patient and caregiver resilience (P&CR) pillar is designed to support the evolving needs of older patients by helping caregivers recognize, prevent and respond to cybercrime.

“Scammers are finding remarkably sophisticated ways to use technology and personal information, making it difficult even for tech-savvy people to recognize when they’re being deceived,” says Meredith Brown, Director of Cybersecurity Assurance at Cleveland Clinic. “Patients are at the heart of our organization, so it’s imperative to give them the tools and support they need to recognize these threats and protect their financial and emotional well-being.”

Educating caregivers and patients

Adults aged 60 and over reported losses exceeding $7.7 billion to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025 – 37% higher than the previous year. That figure is likely just the tip of the iceberg, says Gita Patel, a Cybersecurity Specialist at Cleveland Clinic who leads the development of the P&CR pillar.

“Many of these losses go unreported, especially in older adults, who are among the most vulnerable targets,” she explains. “We want to educate patients and proactively empower them with tools to recognize fraud, scams and illegitimate offers, while equipping caregivers with the capabilities, insight and confidence to identify and safeguard patients from potential abuse.”

The P&CR team is collaborating with the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) and an Ohio-based financial institution to host its first educational event in October. Based on the NCA’s Then and Now program, the event will provide guidance on recognizing and preventing cybercrime, avoiding common scams and using strong passwords and multifactor authentication.

The program will be presented in two parts. In the morning, the NCA will teach Cleveland Clinic caregivers how to protect patients and the public. During the afternoon, the trained caregivers will team up with representatives from the financial institution to present the content to patients and their families.

“It’s so important to improve electronic literacy by helping older adults feel more comfortable and confident navigating the digital world,” Patel explains. “Our goal is to build trust by educating caregivers and enabling them to transfer that critical knowledge to patients and their families.”

Preventing fraud

Helping patients protect their digital assets may seem outside the domain of medical professionals, but Patel says online scams can have far-reaching consequences on personal well-being.

“Cybercrime can take a toll on mental health by making victims feel ashamed and despondent,” she adds. “When someone loses their life savings to a scam, the emotional fallout can be devastating – even deadly. We believe older adults deserve to be protected, and that starts with education.”

The cybersecurity team aims to develop additional teaching materials and programs for clinicians, whose regular interactions with older patients can position them to intervene. Future initiatives are likely to include role-based training, fraud playbooks, micro-learning modules and techniques for building fraud awareness into patient encounters.

Patel explains, “Caregivers already ask patients questions like ‘Can you pay your bills?’ and ‘Do you feel safe at home?’ Perhaps we can add questions related to cybersecurity: ‘Do you use a computer? Do you know how to protect yourself when you’re online?’”

When designing the P&CR pillar, Patel and her team are soliciting caregiver guidance to ensure they create useful materials that resonate with clinical staff and integrate seamlessly into healthcare operations.

“We recognize that being scammed online can have a deleterious effect on someone’s health,” Brown adds. “We want to make sure our care providers know what to look for, what questions to ask and where to direct patients and their families to obtain the appropriate resources.”