When Scammers Call Grandma

"Grandma, I've been arrested and need bail money."

"Your granddaughter was at fault in a car crash, and you need to pay the other driver's medical bills."

Scammers have been preying on older adults with messages like these for too long—and many of them work. In 2023, the FBI received reports of around 200 grandparent scams, resulting in nearly $2 million in losses. However, the figure is likely much lower due to underreporting.

So-called "grandparent scams" or "family emergency scams" target older adults and usually happen over the phone. The scammers pose as law enforcement, attorneys, or even family members, convincing the victim that a grandchild is in deep trouble. They urge the victim to send large sums of money to save them and keep it all a secret.

As AI-generated audio and video becomes more sophisticated, these scams are harder to detect but still include red flags. You should also talk to your family about these incidents and how you can work together to stay safe.

How the scam works

Grandparent scams usually begin with an unexpected phone call where the caller claims to be a grandchild, police officer, or lawyer saying that their grandchild needs urgent financial help. To create a sense of panic, the scammer demands immediate action. They may ask the victim to wire money, transfer cryptocurrency, purchase gift cards, mail payments, or even send cash through a courier.

The scammers use personal information to make the call convincing. They gather data from social media, personal websites, or other online sources. AI has also recently been used to mimic the family member's voice.

Additionally, the scammers tell the victim to keep the payment a secret, even from family members. For example, they might say a judge ordered a gag order about the case.
 
While details may vary, most of family emergency scams involve:

1. An unexpected, dire emergency.
2. Demands for immediate payment through unconventional means.
3. Insistence that the victim keeps the incident a secret.

Sometimes the scammers might call again to request more secret payments by claiming, for instance, that a person died due to injuries caused by the fake accident.

Scammers appeal to emotions

These scams can be effective because they exploit the emotional bonds between family members, and the personal touches scrubbed from social media make the victim act before thinking.

Scammers know that grandparents are likely to act quickly to help a family member in distress. The scenario is always dire, and the scammer often implies the grandchild is at fault and in serious trouble, like injuring a pregnant woman or diplomat because they drove drunk. This storytelling is designed to manipulate the victim’s emotions and make it difficult to think rationally or verify details.

When in doubt, hang up!

Family emergency scams are distressing and meant to stir strong emotions. Remember these tips when the telephone rings:

• Don't answer phone calls from phone numbers you don't recognize.
• If you receive a call from or about a family member that includes an urgent request for money, hang up. Disconnect even if the person on the other end sounds like a loved one.
• Instead, call the direct phone number for the family member.
• If the family member doesn't pick up or you don't have their number, call another family member to verify the situation.
• If anyone tells you to keep an emergency or payments a secret, it's a giant red flag. Hang up.
• Never send money to an unknown person who calls or contacts you online.
• Don't reveal any personal or financial information to an unknown contact, including names. Grandparent scams often start with the scammer saying something like "It's your grandson," the grandparent gives away the name ("Timmy?"), and the scammer rolls with the information.

Have a family discussion

Working to prevent grandparent scams is a family effort. Here are some ways to protect your loved ones: 

Code words: Establish a family code word. If a relative is truly in trouble, they will use the code word to verify their identity. 

Share with care: Scammers check social media and exploit the information there. Even short audio clips can be used to create convincing voice deepfakes. Everyone in the family, from grandparents to grandkids, should think about what they're sharing on social media, who can see it, and how cybercriminals could use it. Be sure to set your social media settings to Private and not Public.

Check in regularly: Not only does communication build family bonds, but you can also teach other cybersecurity tips.

By keeping vigilant, you can help protect your family from the emotional and financial harm caused by grandparent scams.

How to report scams

If you believe you or someone you know has been targeted by a grandparent scam, it’s important to report it. Here are some steps you can take:

• File a report with your local police department.
• Report the scam to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) online.
• If money was sent to the scammer, contact your financial institution right away.