Family scams work because they aim at love, worry, and the feeling that someone needs help right now. The scammer may not know everything about your family. They may only need enough detail to make you pause. A name from social media, an obituary, a public post, a school photo, or a hacked account can help them sound more believable.

FTC data shows the size of the problem. In 2024, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud, and imposter scams were again the most commonly reported scam category, with $2.95 billion in reported losses (FTC, 2024). Family scams are one type of imposter scam: someone pretends to be a person or helper you would naturally trust.

Red flags:

• The message uses a real family name but asks for secrecy.
• The caller says you are the only one who can help.
• The story moves straight to money, codes, gift cards, crypto, a wire transfer, or a payment app.
• The person will not let you slow down and check with someone else.
• The contact comes from a new number, unknown account, or blocked caller ID.

Worked example: A text says, “Mom, I dropped my phone. This is my new number. Can you send money for rent before 5?” The message uses the word “Mom,” but it does not prove it is your child. A scammer may be guessing, using a stolen contact list, or copying a common family script.

What to do:

• Pause before replying.
• Call or message your family member using a number you already had before the message arrived.
• If you cannot reach them, contact another trusted family member.
• Never use the new number or link as the proof.
• Treat secrecy as a warning sign, not as proof that the emergency is real.

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