The grandparent scam is built to trigger love and panic before reason catches up. A caller claims to be a grandchild or relative in trouble, begs for secrecy, and needs money immediately.
Does this affect you?
Use this for urgent calls or texts claiming a child, grandchild, relative, or friend has been arrested, injured, stranded, or stuck abroad and needs immediate money.
Verify before you send anything
A real emergency can survive a short pause. A scammer will try to stop that pause.
- Stay calm and do not supply the name first. If the caller says it is your grandson or granddaughter, ask which one instead of guessing aloud.
- Hang up and call the family member using a number already saved in your contacts.
- If they do not answer, call another relative or mutual contact who can verify where they are.
- Ask a private question that would not be easy to answer from social media or public records.
- Treat secrecy as a warning sign. A real emergency should not require hiding the situation from the entire family.
- Refuse payments by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, payment app, or cash courier. Real courts, hospitals, and attorneys do not demand those methods from a surprise caller.
- Be cautious of a second caller posing as a police officer, lawyer, or bail bondsman. A second voice can still be part of the same scam.
If you already sent money
Move quickly because some payment methods have a short recovery window.
- Contact the bank, wire service, payment app, gift card issuer, or card company immediately. Ask whether the transfer or balance can be stopped.
- File a report with local police to create an official record of the fraud.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
- Tell the rest of the family what happened so another relative is not targeted next.
- Do not blame yourself. These calls are designed professionally to exploit fear for someone you love.
More control
Voices can be faked now
AI voice cloning can make a caller sound more like a real relative. If the story, secrecy, or payment method feels wrong, verify independently even when the voice sounds familiar.
Use a family safe word
Agree on a private phrase for emergencies. A caller who cannot provide it should not receive money.
Report attempts too
Even if you caught the scam before paying, a report helps investigators see which scripts and numbers are active.
Sources
- FTC Consumer Advice – Family Emergency Scams (2025)
- FBI – Grandparent Scams (2025)
- AARP Fraud Watch Network – Grandparent Scam (2025)