Screencap and Send: A Simple Scam Stopper

Author

Laureen Hudson
June 17, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Scams targeting older adults aren’t just rising, they’re climbing fast and getting sneakier.

I know this not just because of what I read in industry reports, but because of my mom. The texts and emails she gets are awful. They prey on people who often don’t have much to spare, and who may not fully understand just how predatory scammers can be.

More than once, I’ve sat her down to explain how a scam works. She’d ask me:
“How can people do that to other people?”
And honestly? I don’t have a good answer.

But I do have a way to help protect your elder that’s nearly foolproof.

Step 1: Screencap

Sit down with your elder and say:
“Promise me you won’t click anything. Just take a screencap of the message, and send it to me first.”

That one habit will stop so many scams in their tracks.

Here’s how to take a screenshot:
📱 How to do it on iPhone
🤖 How to do it on Android

Step 2: Send it to Me

Now, show them how to send that image to you, whether by text, Messenger, WhatsApp, or whatever you use.

This rule slows them down. Scams rely on urgency. The minute they pause to screencap and send, they’re already safer.

Within a couple of months, my mom got the hang of it, and now she’s teaching her friends. Most of them don’t have a cybersecurity nerd in the family. But now they have her. One habit, passed from person to person, is quietly building a safety net.

Step 3: Look it Up

99% of what they send you will be scams. But if you’re not sure, copy the first sentence and search it online. These scams are formulaic and widely reported. You’ll usually find a match immediately.

Step 4: What to Do Next

If it’s a scam:

Tell them not to respond, click, or engage. Just delete it. If it feels upsetting, remind them they did the right thing by checking with you first. That’s a win.

If it’s not a scam:

Great! Use it as a teaching moment. Walk them through why it was safe, and what made it different. Over time, they’ll start to recognize patterns, and gain confidence in their instincts.

One More Thing

Scammers have gotten good at personalization. Between years of data breaches and what’s easy to find on social media, they might use your elder’s name — or mention a family member — to make the scam feel real. That’s not a sign of trust. It’s a tactic.

If your elder is getting scam texts regularly, it’s time to clean up their data footprint.

Want to learn how?
Subscribe to CybersecuriTea and we’ll walk you through it in future issues: step by step, one sip at a time.

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