Online course for adults 60 and over
Recognize scams with confidence — and know exactly what to do
Short, plain-English lessons, realistic practice, and a personal protection plan you can print. Learn at your own pace, from home.
Allow approximately three hours for the core course. Learn in short sessions or complete it in one sitting—your progress is saved. Already enrolled? Use "Student Sign In" at the top of the page. Student Sign In
Who this course is for
- Older adults who want to feel more confident answering the phone, reading email, and using the internet
- Anyone who has received a suspicious call, text or letter and wants to know what to look for next time
- People who have already been targeted and want clear next steps
- Family members and caregivers who want to learn alongside someone they love
- No technical experience needed — if you can read this page, you can take this course
What you'll learn
- How scams work, and the pressure tactics scammers use: urgency, secrecy, fear and excitement
- The warning signs of dozens of scam types — from fake family emergencies and government impostors to romance, tech support, investment and home repair scams
- How to check whether a call, text, email, website, letter or visitor is real
- Simple ways to protect your phone, computer, email and bank accounts
- What to do right away if you think you've been scammed
- The three steps that work for any scam: Stop. Verify. Ask for help.
Four sections, 3 hours
Allow approximately three hours for the core course. Learn in short sessions or complete it in one sitting—your progress is saved.
1. Education — 45 minutes
Nine short lessons, about 5 minutes each, explain how scams work and the warning signs of every major type — with a realistic example, how to verify, and what to do.
2. Interactive Training — 60 minutes
Practice with simulated phone calls, text messages, emails and websites — including real messages, so you learn to check everything the same safe way. Finish with a 10-question final check.
3. Cybersecurity — 35 minutes
Simple steps to protect your passwords, email, phone, computer and bank accounts, then a few quick questions about which protections you already have.
4. Your Personalized Action Plan — 25 minutes
Answer a short, private questionnaire and download a printable plan with prioritized steps and fraud contacts for the banks and card companies you use.
Then go deeper: every scam in the course also has its own full lesson and extra practice. They're not part of the 3 hours, but we strongly encourage you to take the time to learn them, starting with the scams that concern you most.
What's included
Lessons
Read, or watch videos with captions and transcripts as they are added.
Realistic scenarios
Based on the role-play scripts used in our in-person training — with made-up names and numbers.
Interactive exercises
Spot the Red Flags, What Would You Do Next?, and Scam or Legitimate? practice.
Quizzes
Short knowledge checks with friendly explanations, plus a final scenario-based assessment.
Downloadable resources
Printable checklists and worksheets to keep by your phone.
Personalized action-plan PDF
Created on your own device from your answers, with a contact directory checked against official websites.
Curriculum preview
The core course, in order — 3 hours in all, including time for breaks.
Section 1: Education (45 minutes)
- Stop. Verify. Ask for help.
- How scams work and how they want to be paid
- Family emergency and AI voice scams
- Government impostors: Social Security, IRS, Medicare and police
- Fake bank calls, identity theft and debt scams
- Computer, email, text and online shopping scams
- Romance, prize and investment scams
- Scams at your door — and when it's someone you know
- Check it yourself, and what to do if it happened
Section 2: Interactive Training (60 minutes)
- Practice: Stop, Verify, Ask for help
- Scam or Legitimate? Six ways to ask for payment
- Practice: 'Grandma, I'm in jail — don't tell Mom and Dad'
- Spot the Red Flags: a 'Benefits Suspended' email
- Practice: the IRS 'arrest warrant' call
- What would you do? The 'bank fraud department' call
- Spot the Red Flags: a 'virus detected' pop-up
- Scam or Legitimate? Five text messages
- Scam or Legitimate? Five emails
- Practice: A new online friend asks for help
- Practice: A 'utility worker' at your door
- Practice: The morning after — gift cards and remote access
- Final check (10 questions)
Section 3: Cybersecurity (35 minutes)
- Passwords, two-step verification and your email
- Keep your phone and computer locked, updated and backed up
- Safer browsing, downloads, QR codes and social media
- Bank and card alerts and credit freezes
- Remote access, and what to do if you're hacked
- Quick security check (9 questions)
Section 4: Your Personalized Action Plan (25 minutes)
- Build your two action plans and download them
Plus, optional: 49 more detailed lessons and 58 extra practice activities covering every scam type and security topic, for whenever you want to go deeper.
Go deeper: How Scams Work (5 lessons)
How scams work, the pressure tactics scammers use, and the three steps that protect you.
- How scams work: the scammer's playbook
- The pressure tactics scammers use
- Stop. Verify. Ask for help.
- How scammers ask to be paid
- Fake caller ID, AI voices and deepfakes
Go deeper: Family Emergency Scams (2 lessons)
Calls, texts and emails that pretend a loved one is in trouble.
- Grandparent and family emergency scams
- AI voice clones and fake kidnapping calls
Go deeper: Government Impostors (5 lessons)
People pretending to be Social Security, the IRS, Medicare, police or courts.
- Social Security impostors
- IRS impostors
- Tax season scams and tax identity theft
- Medicare and health insurance scams
- Police, court, jury duty and other agency impostors
Go deeper: Bank, Money and Identity Scams (3 lessons)
Fake bank calls, identity theft, and debt, credit and loan scams.
- Fake bank fraud departments and 'safe accounts'
- Identity theft: how it happens and the warning signs
- Debt collection, credit repair and loan scams
Go deeper: Computer, Phone and Online Scams (6 lessons)
Pop-ups, fake renewals, phishing emails, scam texts, delivery and shopping scams.
- Tech support scams and pop-up warnings
- Fake renewals, invoices and 'refund' overpayment scams
- Phishing emails and fake login pages
- Scam text messages
- Package delivery scams
- Online shopping, fake ads and social media scams
Go deeper: Romance, Prize and 'Free Money' Scams (3 lessons)
Romance and friendship scams, 'you've won' calls and fake checks.
- Romance and friendship scams
- Lottery, sweepstakes and prize scams
- Fake checks, inheritances and advance-fee offers
Go deeper: Investment and Retirement Money Scams (3 lessons)
Crypto, 'guaranteed returns', seminars and retirement-money scams.
- Crypto and 'guaranteed return' investment scams
- Ponzi schemes, seminars and trusted-group investment fraud
- Pension, veterans benefit, reverse mortgage and trust scams
Go deeper: Scams at Your Door and in Your Community (4 lessons)
Utility, home repair, charity, funeral, job, rental and travel scams.
- Utility shutoff and fake utility worker scams
- Home repair, storm and disaster scams
- Charity, disaster relief and funeral scams
- Job, rental, timeshare and 'free trip' scams
Go deeper: When the Risk Is Someone You Know (1 lessons)
When the risk comes from someone you know, and how to stay safe.
- Financial exploitation by family, caregivers and helpers
Go deeper: Verify, Respond and Recover (5 lessons)
How to check anything yourself, and what to do if something already happened.
- How to check if a call, text, email, website or visitor is real
- What to do the moment you suspect a scam
- If you already sent money or shared information
- Recovery scams: when scammers come back
- Get ready for your personal action plan
Cybersecurity, in depth: Protect Your Accounts (4 lessons)
Passwords, two-step verification, email and banking protections.
- Strong, unique passwords and password managers
- Two-step verification (multifactor authentication) and passkeys
- Protecting your email account
- Bank and credit card security settings and alerts
Cybersecurity, in depth: Protect Your Devices (4 lessons)
Phones, tablets, computers, updates, backups and Wi-Fi.
- Phone, tablet and computer security basics
- Software and system updates
- Backups and account recovery plans
- Home Wi-Fi and public Wi-Fi precautions
Cybersecurity, in depth: Safer Online Habits (3 lessons)
Safer browsing, downloads, QR codes and social media.
- Safe browsing and spotting misleading web addresses
- Safe downloads, attachments, apps and QR codes
- Social media privacy and account protection
Cybersecurity, in depth: When Something Goes Wrong (2 lessons)
Remote access and what to do if something may be compromised.
- Recognizing unauthorized remote access
- What to do if a device or account may be compromised
Try a free lesson
See how the course works with our free sample lesson, "Stop. Verify. Ask for help." No account needed.
Start the Free LessonAbout Senior Safeguard Services
Senior Safeguard Services provides patient, one-on-one scam-prevention training for older adults in person and through an online course.
Senior Safeguard, a veteran-founded company, was started after an older family friend became a victim of fraud and struggled to find personalized, hands-on help. That experience inspired us to take action — helping seniors recognize scams, protect themselves, and understand what to do if fraud happens.
This online course is based on that one-on-one training: plain-language education, hands-on practice with realistic scam scenarios, and a personal action plan.
Pricing and access
$100
Access: Lifetime access
- All Education, Interactive Training and Cybersecurity lessons
- Personalized Action Plan and PDF
- Downloadable checklists and worksheets
- Your progress saved to your account
- Lifetime access — come back to the lessons and your plans any time
See our refund policy and terms.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be good with computers?
No. The course uses large text, big buttons and simple steps. You can use a computer, tablet or phone. If you get stuck, our support page explains how to reach us.
How long does the course take?
Allow approximately three hours for the core course: 45 minutes of lessons, 60 minutes of practice, 35 minutes on cybersecurity, and 25 minutes to build your plan, plus time for breaks. Learn in short sessions or complete it in one sitting—your progress is saved. Optional, more detailed lessons are there whenever you want to go further.
Can a family member help me?
Yes. Many people find it helpful to go through the lessons with someone they trust.
Will the course stop every scam?
No course can promise that. Scams keep changing. This course teaches you warning signs and habits that work across many kinds of scams, and what to do if something does happen.
I think I've already been scammed. Can this help?
Yes — you can open the free Urgent Help page right now, without signing up. The course also includes step-by-step response guidance and a plan builder for people responding to a suspected scam. It cannot guarantee that money will be recovered.
What information does the action-plan questionnaire ask for?
Only general information, such as which banks and card companies you use (names only), how scammers might reach you, and optional trusted contacts. It never asks for account numbers, card numbers, Social Security numbers, passwords or codes. Your answers are processed on your own device.
Is this personal case management or monitoring?
No. The online course is self-paced education. It does not monitor your accounts or provide emergency help. If you'd like one-on-one help, our main website describes our in-person services.
How do I sign in later?
Click "Student Sign In" at the top of any page and use the email and password you created.
Learn the warning signs. Practice your response. Have a plan.
Start with the free lesson, or enroll when you're ready.
This course is educational. It is not legal, financial or investment advice, and it cannot guarantee that you will avoid every scam or recover lost money.