Raise your hand if regularly receive robocalls from strangers hoping to separate you from your money or personal info. It’s not your imagination that these calls are more frequent. They’re on the rise across the country, and may specifically target older people who are considered easy prey for savvy or sleazy fraudsters. While it’s common to think you’re too smart to get fooled by these scams, it’s also easy to fall victim if they catch you off guard. And the fraud is not only perpetrated by call- you can be cheated by text, regular mail, over the internet or even in person. In this day and age, you’re really not safe from scams anywhere.

Regarding the robocalls and texts, the FCC has an up-to-date consumer guide outlining the types of scams being perpetrated and the ways you can protect yourself. AARP has also recently issued several guides about the types of fraudulent calls you may receive (for example, have you heard from the “Social Security Administration” about an ”enforcement action” or been threatened for arrest because you were a no show for “Jury Duty”?) and how you can protect your personal identity and data from theft. More generally, check out the agebuzz website for Helpful Resources on all sorts of elder abuse concerns, including financial abuse.

If you’re worried that loved ones appear very trusting and vulnerable in the face of these sorts of frauds, then you may have some additional worries as well. A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports that those with low scam awareness are more susceptible to mental decline over the coming years and are at much higher risk of cognitive impairment leading to dementia or an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. So if you or an older relative find yourselves regularly falling for swindles or scams, you may want to stop answering the phone- and you may want to schedule an appointment with a neurologist. To find out more about this research, put down the phone and read here.