Grandparent Scams
A caller pretends to be your grandchild in trouble and begs for secret, urgent money.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
A scammer calls pretending to be your grandchild — or a lawyer or officer helping them. They say there has been an accident, an arrest, or an emergency, and beg for money right away while asking you to keep it secret.
What it usually looks like
- A caller says 'Grandma, it's me' and sounds upset.
- They claim to be in jail or in an accident and need bail or fees.
- They plead with you not to tell other family members.
Common warning signs
- Urgent secrecy — 'don't tell Mom or Dad'.
- A request for cash, gift cards, or a courier to pick up money.
- The caller avoids questions only the real person would know.
Example wording scammers use
“Grandma, I'm in trouble and I need bail money. Please don't tell anyone — send it right away.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Fast, secret payment by cash, gift card, wire, or courier.
What to do
- Hang up and call your grandchild or a family member directly to check.
- Ask a question only the real person could answer.
- Never send cash or gift cards based on an urgent, secret call.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact your bank or the payment service right away.
- Tell other family members what happened.
- Report the scam to local police and the FTC.