Keep the older person's money separate and agree on a second-person check for large payments
Supplement, collectible and investment scams often spend months building trust before seeking one large payment. Agree in advance that spending above a set amount requires talking to a named person first. This delays payment beyond the moment of maximum pressure.
What it takes
Free. Agree once on an amount triggering consultation, without making the person feel distrusted.
What you may gain
A shared consultation threshold interrupts the pattern of months of relationship-building followed by a large extraction of money. The delay creates space to reconsider an impulsive decision.
Context & considerations
Frame this as coordinated household recordkeeping rather than “we think you will be fooled.” Do not transfer all the older person's money into children's custody; that can create a different set of disputes.
Research & references
The author's experience; no direct research citation. General scam guidance appears in Chapter 8 and Chapter 13.