Grandparent Scams

The phone rings, and the caller claims to be your grandchild in some sort of distress. The caller ID may even show their name or phone number. The scammer says they have been arrested, and they need you to send money right away to bail them out. They will ask you not to call their parents for fear of getting into more trouble, and will often put someone else on the phone claiming to be their attorney with instructions on how to send money.

The scammer might ask you to send a wire transfer or urge you to withdraw cash. They may even send a courier to your home to pick up the money.

The caller is not who you think they are. Scammers are good at pretending to be someone they are not. They can be convincing, sometimes using information from social media sites or Artificial Intelligence to mimic your loved one’s voice.

• Resist the urge to act immediately, even if the story is dramatic and you are scared for your loved one’s safety.
• Verify if there is a true emergency. Call your grandchild or their parent to see if they have spoken to them and if they are okay. In addition to a scam “grandchild,” the scammer could pose as any friend or relative.
• Tell your family members and your friends about this type of scam and urge them to be cautious. The best way to avoid falling victim to a scam is to be educated about how a scam works, to look for the warning signs and simply hang up the phone.