Family emergency ('grandparent') scam
The caller poses as a grandchild or other relative in trouble — an accident, an arrest abroad — or as a lawyer or officer calling on their behalf, and begs for urgent, secret payment. Voice-cloning tools have made these calls more convincing.
Modern versions splice in AI voice cloning built from seconds of social-media audio, making the 'grandchild' genuinely sound right. Operations run like logistics firms: 'bondsmen' or couriers collect cash at the door, and mules move it within hours. The counter is agreeing on a family code word in advance and always verifying through a direct callback — a real emergency survives thirty seconds of checking, and a scam collapses on it.
How to recognize it
- Urgent plea for money from a 'relative' who asks you to keep it secret
- Payment requested via gift cards, wire transfer, crypto, or cash couriers
- Caller discourages you from hanging up to verify
What to do
- Hang up and call the family member directly on a number you know
- Ask a question only the real person could answer
- Never send cash or gift cards to a caller
Where to report
Sources
FAQ
What should I do first if I suspect a family emergency ('grandparent') scam call?
Hang up without pressing anything or confirming any details. Hang up and call the family member directly on a number you know. Then report it through the channels listed below.
I already gave the caller money or information — now what?
Act on the money first: contact your bank or card issuer immediately, and if you paid by gift card, call the card company to try freezing the balance. Then file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, if identity data leaked, follow the recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Does the number that called me identify the scammer?
Usually not — the display is routinely spoofed. Report the number anyway: combined with time and content, it still helps investigators map calling campaigns.