Stopping Seniors from getting SCAMMED!
We were told to work hard, save for retirement, and “do the right things” so we’d be safe later in life.
What nobody warned us about?
How many predators are quietly circling our aging parents and how weak the system often is when those parents are financially exploited.
On a recent episode of my podcast, My Parents Lied to Me, I sat down with my friend Malea Madrid, founder of Consider It Done Seniors and the nonprofit Golden Rule Alliance. What she shared honestly shook me—and confirmed exactly why I started Your Parent Porter in the first place.
This isn’t theory. These are real stories from right here in our community. And if it’s happening to their parents, it can happen to ours.
Meet Malea: The “Money Manager” Who Started Seeing Red Flags Everywhere
Malea is a daily money manager and administrative assistant for seniors. Her company, Consider It Done Seniors, helps older adults with:
Bill pay and mail management
Tax preparation and bookkeeping
Organizing paperwork and legacy files
Setting up trusted contacts and basic cybersecurity
On paper, it sounds pretty straightforward—admin support for seniors.
In reality, it became a front-row seat to a growing crisis.
She started out doing in-home taxes for older clients who struggled to get to the office. Over time, she noticed something strange:
People who used to be very organized were suddenly surrounded by stacks of unopened mail.
When she offered to help one client sort through the pile, she found months’ worth of credit card charges for a “Body by Jake” subscription being shipped to some stranger in California. Her client was in his 90s. He had no idea it was even happening.
That’s how this work evolved—from “help with paperwork” into protecting seniors from financial abuse.
Why Fraud and Financial Exploitation Are Exploding
Malea has a front-row view of how quickly this has accelerated, especially since COVID. A few of the reasons she highlighted:
Worldwide desperation. The pandemic hit everyone, but in many parts of the world it triggered deep financial desperation. Desperate people do desperate things.
Fraud is easier than ever. You no longer need to be a genius hacker. Anyone can buy a “hacking kit” or spam tools on the dark web, grab a list of emails, and start blasting scams for a few hundred dollars.
We forced vulnerable people online—with zero guardrails. Telehealth, banking, benefits… our seniors were pushed onto the internet almost overnight, with very little education or protection.
Now layer this on top of the reality for a lot of aging adults:
They’re lonely.
Their adult children may live far away.
Their eyesight, energy, or cognition might not be what it used to be.
They’re trying to navigate technology they never grew up with.
That is a perfect storm for exploitation.
“She Stole My House” – And the Law Shrugged
The stories Malea shared are not edge cases, they’re becoming disturbingly common:
A widower in his 80s went for a massage to help his back after losing his wife of 50+ years. The massage therapist and associates slowly befriended him and ultimately ended up on the deed to his home and in control of his estate. When he realized what had happened and tried to get help, he was told he wasn’t legally “vulnerable” and would have to sue—using money he no longer had.
A 93-year-old woman with a paid-off rental home, her only income besides Social Security—had her property stolen by someone she met at church. The new “owner” wrote to the tenant, claimed the property, and redirected the rent. The senior received no compensation. Attorney after attorney told her there was nothing they could realistically do.
Another caller to Malea’s nonprofit had been stripped of nearly everything by a family member. After fighting as long as she could, the woman admitted she fantasized about showing up at the exploiter’s front door and ending both their lives. That’s the level of despair financial exploitation can create.
And here’s the part that really hits a nerve:
In many of these cases, the law doesn’t recognize these seniors as “vulnerable adults.”
Unless there is a clear diagnosis, like dementia, or a professional steps in to document cognitive impairment, authorities often say it’s a “civil matter.” Translation: hire an attorney and go to court… if you can still afford one.
Meanwhile, the criminals know exactly how to skate right up to the line of legality:
Be “helpful” and “friendly.”
Avoid obvious threats or force.
Get the senior to “choose” to sign things over.
If the senior technically “agreed”?
In many states, it’s incredibly hard to unwind even when every instinct screams this is wrong.
This Isn’t Just a “News Story” Problem. It’s a Neighborhood Problem.
The part that hit me hardest was how normal the setups are:
A friendly face at church.
A caregiver or massage therapist.
Someone who strikes up conversation at the mall, remembers your dad’s walking route, and slowly becomes his “buddy.”
Even a family member who suddenly gets very involved in “helping” with money and paperwork.
Most of us want to believe people are good.
Most seniors especially want to believe in the kindness of others because many of them are lonely.
That’s why this is a community issue as much as a legal one.
Malea told a simple story that shows what “good humans” can do:
A handyman was working in the next room while a client was on the phone. He overheard enough of the conversation to realize something felt off. He gently stepped in and said, “Sir, that doesn’t sound right. Before you do anything, go talk to your bank manager.”
That simple intervention stopped a scam.
We need more of that.
More neighbors paying attention.
More professionals refusing to look the other way.
Where Your Parent Porter Fits In
Listening to Malea, I kept thinking: This is exactly why I created Your Parent Porter.
My background is in real estate and aging in place. I help independent adults stay in the homes they love longer by focusing on safety, function, and proactive planning—not crisis management.
My ideal client is usually 65-85, still independent, still making decisions… but at that tipping point where one fall, one health scare, or one “helpful stranger” could change everything.
I believe:
We need to be talking about emergency plans, documents, and home safety before there’s a diagnosis or a disaster.
Adult children need visibility and confidence—not just a “hope they’re fine” text.
Families deserve neutral, trusted eyes and ears checking in on the home and wellbeing of their parents, especially when distance is a factor.
That’s what SAFE Home & Wellness Check-Ins are all about:
Catching the small issues early, whether it’s a loose rug, a poorly lit staircase, or piles of unopened mail that signal something bigger is going on.
What You Can Do Right Now to Protect Your Parents
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Okay, now I’m freaked out… what do I actually do?” — take a breath. Then start here:
1. Start talking about money and mail.
Ask your parents (gently, without judgment):
Are you opening all your mail?
Do you understand every recurring charge on your statements?
Has anyone new started “helping” you with finances or paperwork?
2. Make sure they have a “trusted contact” on key accounts.
Most financial institutions now allow you to list a trusted contact, someone the bank can call if they see suspicious activity. This is not the same as a power of attorney, but it’s an important layer of protection.
3. Consider a daily money manager or admin support.
If your parents are overwhelmed by paperwork, bills, or online accounts, bringing in a vetted professional can be the difference between staying independent and drifting into chaos.
4. Strengthen their tech safety.
Things like:
Freezing credit if appropriate
Creating a password list stored securely
Setting up simple devices for telehealth and communication
Teaching them basic red flags (no, the IRS is not calling to demand gift cards)
5. Pay attention to who is suddenly “so helpful.”
Friends from church, neighbors, caregivers—most are wonderful. Some are not. If a new person suddenly has a lot of influence, access, or paperwork involvement, it’s okay to ask questions and set boundaries.
A Call to Action: It Takes a Village to Keep Our Parents Safe
Here’s the hard truth:
The laws are not always catching up to the reality.
That’s why people like Malea are fighting to change policy through her nonprofit, Golden Rule Alliance, and why I’m so committed to proactive, boots-on-the-ground support through Your Parent Porter.
But we can’t do this alone.
If this hit home for you:
Share this article with your siblings, friends, or neighbors.
Start a real conversation with your parents—before there’s a crisis.
If you’re in the Metro Phoenix area and want another set of eyes on your parents’ home and wellbeing, reach out and let’s talk about a SAFE Home & Wellness Check-In.
Our parents worked their whole lives to build what they have.
The least we can do is make sure it doesn’t quietly disappear into the hands of people who never earned it.
This is the part our parents never warned us about.
But we’re the generation that can finally do something about it.
Check out the interview on YouTube @yourparentporter
