Impersonation
Grandparent Scams
Scammers call or email elderly people, pretending to be their grandchild in serious trouble and in urgent need of money.
How It Works
- The scammer calls, often late at night, and says something like, "Hi Grandma, it's me!" hoping the victim will say their grandchild's name.
- They then claim to be in an emergency (e.g., arrested, in a car accident, stuck in a foreign country) and need money immediately.
- They often add a sense of urgency and secrecy, pleading "Don't tell Mom and Dad."
- The payment is requested through hard-to-trace methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or a courier service.
Red Flags
- An urgent, unexpected call from someone claiming to be a relative in distress.
- The "relative" asks you to keep the situation a secret.
- Pressure to send money immediately.
- The use of AI voice cloning to mimic a relative's voice.
Prevention Tips
- Resist the urge to act immediately.
- Hang up and call your grandchild or another family member on a known, trusted number to verify the story.
- Ask a personal question that only your real grandchild would know the answer to.
- Never send money based on an urgent phone call or email alone.
Example Scenario
"An elderly person receives a call from a crying individual who says "Grandma, I'm in jail and I need $1,500 for bail. Please don't tell anyone, I'm so scared.""