Grandparent and family emergency scams

What is a family emergency scam?

A grandparent scam starts with a call that sounds like a family emergency. The caller says they’re your grandchild, or another close relative, and that they’ve been in an accident or arrested. They need money right now.

The FCC describes the usual script. The “grandchild” may beg, “please don’t let Mom and Dad know,” then hand the phone to someone posing as a lawyer or court official who demands immediate payment. The pressure is designed to keep you from stopping to check.

Scammers often know real details about your family. The FCC says they get personal information by mining social media or buying data stolen by cyber thieves, then build a story around it. Caller ID can also be “spoofed” so the call seems to come from someone you trust.

Why do scammers ask you to keep it secret?

Secrecy is what makes the scam work. If you call your son or daughter, or your grandchild’s own phone, the story falls apart in seconds. So the caller gives you a reason not to: embarrassment, a “gag order,” or fear that the grandchild will get in more trouble.

Any request to keep an emergency secret from the rest of the family is a warning sign. Real lawyers and courts don’t need you to hide anything from your relatives.

Can scammers really copy a grandchild’s voice?

Yes. The FCC warns that with advances in artificial intelligence, scammers can now clone the voices of loved ones, which makes these calls more believable. The FTC explains that a scammer needs only a short audio clip of a family member’s voice, which could come from something they posted online, plus a voice-cloning program.

The FBI has started tracking AI-related complaints. In 2025, people 60 and older reported about $352 million in losses in complaints the FBI’s IC3 tagged as AI-related.

That means a familiar voice is no longer proof of who’s calling. The FCC’s advice is direct: don’t trust the voice on the phone. Read more in our guide to AI voice and deepfake scams.

How does a family safe word help?

A safe word is a simple defense that a cloned voice can’t beat. Choose a word or short phrase with your family ahead of time, something that isn’t posted anywhere online. If you get an emergency call, ask for it. The FCC says that if the caller can’t remember the safe word, it may be a scammer.

A few other habits help too:

• Hang up and call back on the number saved in your contacts. If you can’t reach your relative, the FCC suggests checking with other family members or friends who can.
• Write down the details the caller gives you before you hang up.
• Share less in public. Fewer public videos and personal details give scammers less to work with.

What if a ‘courier’ comes to collect cash?

Some scammers send someone to your home to pick up cash, or ask to meet you to collect it. The FCC lists this among the red flags, along with pressure to send money through a payment app, wire transfer, gift cards or money orders.

If anyone is on the way to collect money for a “bail” or “legal fee,” don’t hand anything over. Call your local police right away, then call your relative on a number you know.

If you already paid, call your bank or the company you used to pay right away, and follow our first-hour checklist after a scam. You can also learn how to report a scam call.

More guides: grandparent scams: how they work and what to say and how to protect an aging parent from scams.