Holiday Phone Safety Guide: What to Tell Your Parents About Scams and Subscriptions

TL;DR for Parents: When in doubt, don't click anything. Call your kid first. We'd rather answer 100 questions than have you lose money to a scammer. Also, check your phone subscriptions (instructions below) because you might be paying for stuff you don't use.

Why I Wrote This

I was helping my dad with his phone recently and discovered he was paying over $100 per month in subscriptions he didn't know about. Including YouTube Premium twice. He had no idea.

My dad is sharp. He ran a successful business for decades. But phone interfaces are designed by 25-year-olds who assume everyone grew up with this stuff. Scammers know this and target older folks specifically.

If you're visiting parents this Thanksgiving, spend 15 minutes going through their phone with them. Print this guide out and stick it on their fridge. It might save them real money and a lot of stress.

The Most Important Thing

If something feels wrong, don't click anything. Call your kid.

That's it. That's the whole strategy. We're not annoyed by these calls. We want you to call us. Every time.

Fake Virus Warnings

You might see scary pop-ups saying things like:

  • "Your phone has been infected!"
  • "You have 3 viruses! Click here to clean"
  • "Your phone has been hacked!"

These are lies. iPhones don't get viruses from websites. Android phones have strong security too. The warning itself is the scam. They want you to panic and call their fake support number or download their fake security app.

What to do: Just close it. Press the home button or swipe up. You're fine. Nothing bad happened.

Texts from Unknown Numbers

You might get texts from strangers saying things like:

  • "Hi! Is this Karen? We met at church last week"
  • "Your package couldn't be delivered"
  • "There's a problem with your bank account"
  • "Hey, long time no see!"
  • "I have those photos you wanted"

These are scams. The sender doesn't know you. They blast these to thousands of numbers hoping someone responds. Once you reply, even just "wrong number," they know it's a real person and will target you more.

What to do: Don't reply. Just delete it. If someone really needs you, they'll call or you'll recognize them.

Toll, IRS, and "Official" Text/Email Scams

These are everywhere right now. You might get texts or emails claiming to be from:

  • Toll roads: "You owe $6.99 in unpaid tolls. Pay now to avoid fees."
  • The IRS: "Action required on your tax account. Click here."
  • Social Security: "Your benefits are suspended. Verify your identity."
  • Medicare: "Your coverage is at risk. Update your information."
  • Your utility company: "Your power will be shut off today unless you pay."

Here's the truth: 100% of these can be ignored.

Real government agencies and toll authorities don't send texts or emails demanding immediate action. They use physical mail. Always. The mail will include an official letterhead, a case number, and legitimate contact information you can verify.

What to do:

  1. Delete the text or email. Don't click any links.
  2. If you're worried it might be real, look up the agency's official website yourself (type it in Google, don't use any link they gave you).
  3. Call them using the number on the official website. Never call a number from a suspicious text or email.
  4. Wait for the mail. If it's truly important, official paperwork will arrive at your mailbox.

Even if a physical letter arrives and something feels off, it's fair to assume someone might be trying to scam you. Scammers can send fake letters too. Always look up contact information independently and call to verify before taking any action.

Suspicious Phone Calls

Scammers love pretending to be:

  • Apple or Microsoft: They never call you out of the blue. Ever.
  • The IRS: They send letters. They don't call demanding payment.
  • Your bank: Hang up and call the number on your card instead.
  • Police or sheriff: Real cops don't call asking for money.
  • A grandchild in trouble: Scammers can fake voices now. Always call your grandchild directly to verify.

What to do: If it feels off, hang up. It's not rude. Then call your kid to talk through it.

The Gift Card Rule

No legitimate organization ever asks for gift card payment.

Not the IRS. Not your electric company. Not anyone real. If someone asks you to buy gift cards and read the numbers, it's a scam. 100% of the time.

Finding Hidden Subscriptions

This is worth checking. You might be paying for stuff you forgot about.

On iPhone:

  1. Open Settings (gray gear icon)
  2. Tap your name at the top
  3. Tap Subscriptions

On Android:

  1. Open Google Play Store
  2. Tap your profile picture (top right)
  3. Tap Payments & subscriptions
  4. Tap Subscriptions

Cancel anything you don't recognize or don't use anymore.

Note: This only shows subscriptions through Apple or Google. You might have other stuff charging your credit card directly. Ask your kid to help review your statements.

Quick Reference

Real:

  • Comes from someone you know
  • Gives you time to think
  • Never involves gift cards
  • Government agencies use physical mail, not texts

Scam:

  • Creates panic and urgency
  • Stranger asking if you remember them
  • Wants gift cards for any reason
  • Asks you to click a link in a text
  • Claims to be IRS, tolls, or Medicare via text/email

The Bottom Line

Before you click anything, download anything, or give anyone information: call your kid.

We love you. We're happy to help. Always.

Print this out and stick it on the fridge. Happy Thanksgiving 2025.