The grandparent scam is a fake emergency aimed at someone who loves a younger family member. The caller may pretend to be a grandchild, a lawyer, a police officer, a doctor, or a friend helping after an accident. The story usually has three parts: panic, secrecy, and money.

The name “grandparent scam” can make it sound narrow, but the pattern can target anyone. A parent can get the call. A spouse can get the text. An aunt, uncle, sibling, or adult child can be pressured the same way. The scammer’s goal is to get the helper to act before checking.

Red flags:

• “Please do not tell Mom or Dad.”
• “I am in jail” or “I caused an accident.”
• “A lawyer will call you with payment instructions.”
• “Send cash, gift cards, crypto, or a wire.”
• “Stay on the phone until the money is sent.”
• The person gives excuses for why you cannot call them back normally.

Worked example: A caller says, “Grandma, it is me. I was in a wreck and I am scared. My lawyer says bail is $4,000. Please do not tell anyone.” A second caller then acts like the lawyer and gives wire instructions. The second caller makes the story feel official, but that does not make it true. The scammer is using fear and secrecy to block your normal family support system.

What to do:

• Hang up or stop responding.
• Call the grandchild, parent, or other relative using a known number.
• If using a landline, call back from a cell phone if possible, or wait a few minutes before redialing. On some landlines, a scammer can keep the line open and fake a dial tone.
• Ask another trusted family member to check.
• Do not send money while the caller is keeping you isolated.

If money was already sent, act the same day. Call the bank, wire company, payment app, cash-transfer service, or gift-card issuer first and ask if the payment can be stopped or reversed. Then report the scam at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

This lesson is part of Protecting Your Family Online from Lumoset Foundation, Fort Wayne, Indiana – free, always, with no account and no catch.