Start from respect
Your parents raised you and ran a household for decades. They are not careless. Scams fool doctors, lawyers, and young people too, because they are built by professionals to create panic.
Avoid words like gullible or confused. Say we, not you. You are both up against the same people.
Openings that work
- Share your own story: I got a fake toll text yesterday that looked real. Have you gotten any like that?
- Ask for their help: My friend's dad got a strange call. What would you have done?
- Use the news: There is a new scam where they copy a grandchild's voice. Should we pick a family code word?
Agree on a few simple rules
- Nobody real will ask you to pay with gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or cash by courier.
- If someone says it is urgent and secret, that is the moment to call one of us.
- Hang up and call back using a number you already have, never one the caller gives you.
- Never share a code sent to your phone with someone who called or texted you.
- Pick a family code word for emergencies.
Make it easy to ask
Tell them you will never be annoyed by a quick check, even ten times a week. Thank them each time they ask. If they ask you about something that turns out to be real, still thank them.
If you cannot always pick up, Uncle can help them check a strange text or letter any time, and the Family plan can let you know when something looks like a scam.
Simple settings you can set up together
- Turn on spam call filtering or silence unknown callers on their phone.
- Add their doctors, pharmacy, and bank to their contacts so those calls still ring through.
- Add their number to donotcall.gov.
- Consider adding you as a trusted contact at their bank or brokerage.
Stuck on a step?
Text Uncle at +1 208 214 0093 and tell him what you see on your screen. He walks you through it in plain words, one step at a time.
Read next
- Family code word
- Help a parent after a scam
- Trusted contact at your bank
- Grandparent scam
- See all guides
Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
Text Uncle