This is article 3 of a 4 article series.
Tablets help seniors stay connected with family, read news, play games, and make video calls. But they also create serious risks if not set up carefully.
Every year, older adults lose $3 billion to online scams. Most happen through phones, tablets, emails, and texts. Many seniors also accidentally buy apps, subscriptions, or products they never intended to purchase.
This guide shows how to protect tablets from financial risks while keeping them useful.
Common Tablet Risks
Accidental Purchases
What happens:
- Clicking ads that charge $4.99
- Signing up for monthly subscriptions
- Buying in-game items ($19.99 for coins)
- One-click Amazon purchases
Why it happens:
- Ads look like parts of games
- “Buy now” buttons are large and easy to tap
- Saved credit cards make purchasing instant
- Confusing interfaces
Real example: One man’s father bought $400 in app purchases over three months playing “free” games. He didn’t realize he was buying anything.
Common Scams Targeting Seniors
- Tech support scams: Pop-ups claim “Your device has a virus! Call now!” Fake support charges $200-$500 for fake fixes.
- Romance scams: Fake profiles build relationships, then ask for money.
- Grandparent scams: Calls claiming a grandchild needs bail money immediately.
- Prize scams: “You won $1 million! Pay $500 in taxes first.”
- Phishing emails: Fake messages from “Amazon” or “your bank” asking for passwords.
Essential Safety Settings
Configure these seven settings before giving a tablet to an elderly loved one.
Remove All Saved Credit Cards
What this does: Without saved cards, accidental purchases cannot be completed. When purchases are attempted, the device asks for payment info, giving time to realize it’s a purchase.
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s guide to managing payment methods
- Android tablets: Google’s guide to payment methods
For occasional purchases: Use gift cards instead. Load $25-$50 at a time. When it’s empty, no more purchases are possible.
Disable In-App Purchases
What this does: Free games often sell in-app items ($1.99 for extra lives, $9.99 for coins). This setting blocks all in-app buying completely.
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s guide to preventing in-app purchases
- Android tablets: Google’s guide to restricting purchases
Important: Set a passcode they don’t know to prevent them from changing this setting.
Require Passwords for All Purchases
What this does: Adds friction to every purchase. They must type a password, creating a moment to think “Am I buying something?”
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s guide to requiring passwords
- Android tablets: Google’s authentication settings
Simplify the Home Screen
What to keep:
- Phone
- Messages
- Photos
- Video calling (FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp)
- Weather
- A few favorite games
What to delete:
- Amazon and all shopping apps
- Social media (except family-only platforms)
- Email (if they can’t recognize scams)
- Safari/Chrome (if they click dangerous links)
- All pre-installed apps they don’t use
How to delete apps:
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s guide to deleting apps
- Android tablets: Google’s guide to uninstalling apps
Make remaining icons large:
- iPhone/iPad: Increase text and icon size
- Android tablets: Change display size
Block Spam Calls and Texts
What this does: Most scam calls come from unknown numbers. This setting sends them straight to voicemail or blocks them entirely.
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s guide to blocking calls
- Android tablets: Google’s spam call blocking
Turn on Parental Controls
What this does: Limits access to risky websites and prevents downloading sketchy apps that might contain malware or scams.
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s Screen Time and parental controls
- Android tablets: Google Family Link setup
Recommended restrictions:
- Turn off web browser (Safari/Chrome)
- Allow only age-appropriate apps
- Limit adult website access
- Require approval for app downloads
Prevent Changes to Settings
What this does: Stops them from accidentally undoing the security settings you just configured.
- iPhone/iPad: Use Screen Time restrictions (covered in the parental controls guide above)
- Android tablets: Use Family Link supervision (covered in the parental controls guide above)
What to Tell Seniors
Simple safety rules:
- Never click pop-ups saying “virus detected”
- Never give credit card numbers over the phone
- Never send money to people you haven’t met in person
- If someone says it’s urgent, it’s probably a scam
- Call family before sending money to anyone
Red flags for scams:
- Urgent requests for money
- Threats (“your account will close,” “you’ll be arrested”)
- Requests for gift cards or wire transfers
- Too-good-to-be-true offers
- Spelling or grammar mistakes
Privacy Settings to Adjust
Many apps request access to location, photos, and contacts. Limit what apps can see.
- iPhone/iPad: Apple’s privacy and security settings
- Android tablets: Google’s app permissions guide
Recommended restrictions:
- Location: Turn off for all apps except Maps
- Photos: Limit to only essential apps
- Contacts: Turn off for most apps
- Microphone: Only allow for video calling apps
Monthly Safety Checks
Set a calendar reminder for the first of each month to review:
- Bank statements for unknown charges
- App store purchase history
- Downloaded apps (delete any unknown ones)
- Text messages for scam attempts
- Contacts list (remove unknown numbers)
- If they have a computer or laptop, make sure the anti-virus software is updated and run a scan.
Check purchase history:
- iPhone/iPad: View App Store purchase history
- Android tablets: View Google Play purchase history
If a Scam Happens
Immediate steps:
- Don’t send more money
- Change passwords for all accounts
- Call your bank to report fraud
- Report to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- File police report if money was lost
For credit card fraud:
- Call card company immediately
- They’ll likely refund fraudulent charges
- Request a new card number
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I give my parent a tablet at all? Yes, if set up safely. Tablets provide a valuable family connection. Just configure security settings first.
Can I monitor their tablet remotely? Yes, through Family Sharing (iPhone) or Family Link (Android). You’ll see apps downloaded and purchase attempts.
How do I explain these restrictions without offending them? “I set these up on all our family tablets for security. Online scams are everywhere now, and these settings protect everyone in the family.”
What’s the safest tablet for seniors? iPads with Screen Time enabled or Android tablets with Family Link. Both allow strong security controls that you can manage remotely.
What if they accidentally change the settings? Use parental controls to lock settings. They won’t be able to undo your security configurations without the passcode.
Set up these protections before giving the tablet to your loved one. It’s much easier to start secure than to fix problems after they happen.
Additional resources:
Article series
Before your family member loses the ability to communicate, have them document their wishes about technology use—especially monitoring devices in their home. Record their preferences for both current and future scenarios.
- Tech fatigue – why simple aging in place technology works best
- Which aging in place technology could work for your family
- Tablet safety for seniors preventing scams and accidental purchases