'Stranded Relative Abroad — Wire Money' Scam
A message claims your relative is stranded overseas — robbed, arrested, or hospitalized — and urgently needs money wired to get home.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You receive a call, email, or text claiming a family member traveling abroad has been robbed, arrested, or hospitalized and needs money wired immediately for a hotel, fine, medical bill, or flight home. It may come from a 'friend,' an 'embassy official,' or the relative's hacked email. The urgency and distance discourage verification. The relative is usually safe at home or unaware. Wiring money to strangers abroad is nearly impossible to recover.
What it usually looks like
- A message that your relative is stranded/robbed/arrested abroad.
- An urgent request to wire money to get home.
- Contact from a 'friend,' 'embassy,' or their hacked email.
- Reasons they can't be reached directly.
Common warning signs
- Wire requests for a relative 'stuck abroad.'
- Pressure and secrecy.
- Inability to speak with the relative directly.
- The story arriving via email or a third party.
Example wording scammers use
“It's me — I was robbed in Madrid and lost everything. Please wire €1,500 so I can get home. I can't call.”
“This is the embassy; your relative needs funds for a fine before release.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- A wire that's hard to trace or reverse.
- To exploit worry and distance.
- Repeat payments.
What to do
- Contact your relative directly and other family before acting.
- Verify any 'embassy' claim through official State Department channels.
- Do not wire money based on an urgent message.
- Ask a question only your relative would know.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact your bank/wire service immediately to try to stop it.
- Confirm your relative is safe.
- Report to ic3.gov and reportfraud.ftc.gov.