I think having access to the internet is OK. My mom always got a bunch of viruses clicking on things she shouldn't so got to know the compute repair people real well. But was not scammed that way.

Access to incoming phone calls is the biggest problem. Once she has been scammed that way she is on a list that is sold to all scammers and you can expect she will be inundated with scams. Take away her phone or put in controls that only numbers on her contact list can call the phone. Everything else is blocked.

In terms of the internet the only problem with it is if she has access to her credit card numbers and bank account numbers.

#1) Freeze her credit.
#2) Make sure she has no debit cards.
#3) Get her a new credit card with someone as co-owner, put a very low limit on it and enable notifications to the co-owner of all charges in text and email so they get it. Or just take away all credit cards, check book and bank account access.
#4) Get her an Echo Show so she can call out to family members with just a verbal command. She can ask it questions. She can have books read to her etc. You can also drop in to talk to her without her having to answer a phone (which she will eventually lose the capability to do).
#5) Intercept her mail if she still has access to any financial instrument like checks, bank card or credit card.
#6) Take away her car if she gets lost or has trouble driving.
#7) Make sure someone is regularly checking her accounts for auto withdrawals for subscriptions. Elderly don't often see the little box that says they are signing up for a subscription or a regular donation when they are buying something or donating to a cause. Then it just goes on forever because they don't know how to cancel it.


We had a problem with my mom getting a call from a medicare specialist right after my mom had a stroke and alot of medical expenses. She had paid her deductible and was on the health insurance's dime. The medicare specialist convinced her mid year that if she switched insurance she would get access to better health care. So she authorized it on the phone. Luckily we saw the switch letter come in and called and got it switched back since it would have started her deductible all over again. How did they get her number mid year right after all those expenses? I will always wonder if it was her insurance company's doing to try and get people with high expenses to switch companies.