How to Recognize the Grandparent Scam

Scammers call pretending to be a grandchild in trouble — arrested, injured, or stranded. Learn the warning signs so you never fall for it.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Recognize the setup
2.Pause before reacting to urgency
3.Hang up and call your grandchild directly
4.Never send money without verifying in person
5.Report the scam even if you did not lose money

Recognize the setup

~15s

The call starts with "It's me, Grandma/Grandpa!" without saying a name. If you say "Tommy, is that you?" they will become Tommy. Never supply the name yourself — make them identify themselves.

Pause before reacting to urgency

~15s

Scammers use extreme urgency to short-circuit your thinking. Before doing anything, breathe and say: "I need to call you back." A real grandchild in genuine trouble will not be harmed by a 5-minute verification pause.

Hang up and call your grandchild directly

~24s

End the call. Call your grandchild on their known phone number — not any number the caller gave you. In the vast majority of cases, your grandchild will answer and have no idea what you are talking about.

Quick Tip

Create a family code word — a random word only immediate family knows. If anyone calls claiming to be a family member in trouble, ask for the code word. Scammers will not know it.

Never send money without verifying in person

~23s

Never wire money, send gift cards, or hand cash to a courier for anyone you have not spoken with directly at their real number. No legitimate legal system asks bail to be paid in gift cards.

Warning

Even if a second caller claims to be a police officer or attorney with a badge number, do not send money. Real law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone.

Report the scam even if you did not lose money

~15s

Report the attempt to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to local police. Reporting helps track scam operations and warn others. If you did lose money, also contact your state Attorney General's office.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Recognize the Grandparent Scam

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The grandparent scam is one of the most emotionally devastating phone scams targeting older adults. The caller pretends to be a grandchild in crisis — claiming to have been arrested, gotten into a car accident, or stranded in another city or country. They beg you not to tell their parents, making the situation feel urgent and secret.

Next, a fake "lawyer" or "police officer" calls to confirm the story and instruct you to wire money, send gift cards, or hand cash to a courier. The scammer counts on your love and panic overriding your judgment.

Warning signs

: - The caller says "Grandma/Grandpa, it's me!" without giving a name — they want you to fill in the name yourself - They ask you to keep it a secret from the child's parents - They insist on immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cash - A second caller (fake attorney, police) confirms the emergency - The voice sounds different from your grandchild — they may explain it as a cold, injury, or bad connection

What to do

: Hang up immediately. Call your grandchild directly on their known phone number. Call their parents. In almost every case, the grandchild is perfectly fine and knew nothing about the call.

In 2024, Americans age 70 and older lost over $500 million to this scam variant. The FBI recommends creating a family code word — a word only family members know — that the real grandchild would use if they ever were truly in trouble.

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