Course Catalog / BMU 050 / Lesson 4 of 5
BMU 050
Lesson 4: Scams that target families, job seekers, and older adults
Quick review
1. What two tools lock an account?
See the answer
A long, unique passphrase and two step login.
Why this matters
Some scams aim at people at a hard moment. A parent hears a child is in trouble. A job seeker needs work. An older adult gets a scary call about the government. In this lesson you learn three of these scams and one safe move for each.
Start with what you already do
You already have people you would drop everything for. Scammers know that.
Common belief: If it sounds just like my grandson, it is my grandson.
What is actually true: The FTC warns that scammers can copy a voice with a short clip from the internet. Do not trust the voice. Call the person at a number you know.
In this lesson you will
- Name the signs of a family emergency scam
- Name three signs of a job scam
- Name two scams that often target older adults
- Choose a safe way to check each one
Key words
- voice cloning
- Using a computer to copy a person's voice.
- safe word
- A secret word your family agrees on ahead of time.
- fake check scam
- A scammer sends a check, then asks you to send some money back. The check bounces.
- reshipping
- A fake job of getting packages and mailing them on. It is part of a crime.
Short explanation
Each of these scams uses the same four signs. Each one has a safe move: call a number you trust, never pay to get a job, and get free help.
Families: the emergency call
A caller sounds like your child or grandchild. They say they were in a crash or are in jail. They beg you not to tell anyone. They ask for money by wire, gift card, crypto, or app. The FTC says scammers can copy a voice from a short clip online.
- Safe move: hang up. Call the person at the number saved in your phone. If you cannot reach them, call another family member.
- Plan ahead: the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggests a family safe word. If the caller does not know it, it may be a scam.
Job seekers: the job that costs you
The FTC lists these signs of a job scam:
- You must pay for training, a kit, or the job itself. Honest employers do not charge you to get a job.
- They send a check and ask you to send part back, or buy gear with it. The check is fake. The bank will want the money back from you.
- The job is to get packages at home and reship them. That is never a real job.
- They promise big pay for little work, or interview you only by text.
Safe move: find the job on the company's own careers page. Search the company name with the word "scam."
Older adults: the scary official call
Scammers pretend to be from Social Security, Medicare, the IRS, or a tech company. They say there is a crime, a debt, or a virus. They ask for money or for control of your computer.
- Safe move: hang up and call the agency at a number from its official site or your own papers.
- Free help: the U.S. Department of Justice runs the National Elder Fraud Hotline for people 60 and older: 833 372 8311. It is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.
Text version of this figure
- 1. Family emergency call. Sign: A familiar voice wants money and a secret. Safe move: Hang up. Call their saved number. Ask for the safe word.
- 2. Job that costs you. Sign: Pay a fee, send back check money, or reship boxes. Safe move: Never pay to get a job. Check the company careers page.
- 3. Scary official call. Sign: IRS, Social Security, Medicare, or tech support. Safe move: Hang up. Call the real number. Age 60 and up: 833 372 8311.
Worked example: Check a made up job offer
This is a made up email to a job seeker named Lina.
"You are hired as a Remote Assistant! Pay $85 for your starter kit. We will mail you a $2,000 check. Keep $300 and send the rest to our supplier."
| Part | Model | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| "You are hired" | No interview, a surprise offer | A surprise. Real jobs check you first. |
| "Pay $85 for your starter kit" | Pay to get a job | The FTC says honest employers do not charge you. |
| "$2,000 check ... send the rest" | Fake check scam | The check bounces. Lina would owe the bank. |
| Safe move | Lina looks up the company's own careers page | She finds no such job and reports it. |
Practice: Pick the safe move
A made up caller sounds like your niece. "I crashed the car. Please send $900 by app. Don't tell my dad." What do you do first?
Check your practice: feedback
Hang up and call your niece at the number saved in your phone. If she does not answer, call her dad or another family member.
Why: the voice can be faked. The secret and the app payment are scam signs.
Common mistakes
- Keeping it secret because the caller asked. A request for secrecy is a red flag. Tell someone you trust.
- Paying a small fee to start a job. Honest employers do not charge you to work.
- Letting a caller control your computer. Hang up. Call the company at a number you found yourself.
Try it: Make your family safety plan
Pick your scenario:
- A parent or grandparent
- A job seeker
- Someone who helps an older adult
- Pick a family safe word with the people closest to you. Say it in person, not online.
- Save their numbers in your phone.
- If you are job hunting, save one rule: never pay to get a job.
Do it by: this week
Reflect
Who in your family is most likely to get one of these calls?
Check your understanding
1. A caller sounds exactly like your son and asks for bail money by gift card. What should you do?
- Hang up and call your son at his saved number.
- Send it fast because it is his voice.
- Ask the caller for his lawyer's number.
See the answer and feedback
A is correct. Right. Voices can be copied. Check at a number you know.
B: The FTC warns voices can be cloned. Review Families: the emergency call.
C: A number from the caller may go to the scammer. Review Families: the emergency call.
2. A new job asks you to deposit their check and send part of it back. What is this?
- A normal start bonus.
- A fake check scam.
- A safe way to get paid fast.
See the answer and feedback
B is correct. Right. The check will bounce, and you will owe the bank.
A: Honest employers never ask for money back. Review Job seekers.
C: You would lose the money you sent. Review Job seekers.
3. Who can call the National Elder Fraud Hotline for help?
- Only police officers.
- Only bank workers.
- People 60 and older, or someone helping them.
See the answer and feedback
C is correct. Right. It is free and run by the U.S. Department of Justice.
A: It is for older adults and their helpers. Review Older adults.
B: It is for older adults and their helpers. Review Older adults.
Takeaway: three scams
- Family call: hang up, call a saved number, use a safe word
- Job offer: never pay to get a job, never send back check money
- Official call: hang up, call the agency's real number
- Elder Fraud Hotline: 833 372 8311
Recap
- Scams aim at love, need, and fear.
- Voices can be copied.
- Honest jobs do not cost money.
- Free help exists for older adults.
You now have: a family safe word and a plan for three common scams.
Next up
Next you will build your first hour plan and finish your capstone. Go to Lesson 5: Your first hour plan. BMU 050 is free. There is no paywall and no fee.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Alert: Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes (March 20, 2023) (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- FCC Scam Alert: Grandparent scams get more sophisticated (safe word advice) (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- FTC Consumer Advice: Job scams (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- Consumer.gov (FTC): Job scams explained (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime: National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833 372 8311 (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern) (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
- FTC Consumer Advice: How to avoid a scam (Four signs that it's a scam) (current as of Oct 29, 2026)
