Phone calls · Scam library
Grandparent scam (family emergency and AI voice cloning): how to spot it and what to do
Arrives by: Phone call, Text message
Is it a scam?
The grandparent scam is a call from someone pretending to be a grandchild or other relative in an emergency, such as an arrest or a car accident, who needs money right away and asks you to keep it secret. Scammers can now use AI to copy a loved one's voice from a short clip posted online. Hang up and call your relative on a number you already know.
How the scam works.
The phone rings. A young voice says "It's me" and sounds upset. With AI voice cloning, it can sound just like your grandchild.
They describe an emergency, often an arrest or a car accident, and beg you not to tell their parents.
They hand the phone to a "lawyer," "police officer" or "bail agent" who names a dollar amount.
You are told to pay right away by wire, gift cards, cryptocurrency, a payment app or cash. Sometimes someone comes to your door to pick up the money.
Red flags to look for.
Illustrative example · Phone call
Incoming call
+1 (404) 555-0117
Written from the patterns official sources describe. Phone numbers and web addresses in it are fake.
A request to keep it secret, such as "please don't let Mom and Dad know."
Pressure to pay right now, before you can check the story.
Payment by gift cards, wire, cryptocurrency, a payment app, money order or cash.
An offer to send a courier to your home to pick up money.
The voice sounds right, but the caller avoids questions only your real grandchild could answer.
Caller ID shows a familiar name or number. Caller ID can be faked.
The real thing vs. the scam.
What the real organization does
What the scammer does
A real family emergency can wait the two minutes it takes you to hang up and call your grandchild or their parents.
A caller who insists you stay on the line and not tell anyone.
Courts and police do not send couriers to collect bail in cash or ask for gift cards.
A "lawyer" who wants cash at your door or gift card numbers over the phone.
If you got this message.
- Do not trust the voice, even if it sounds exactly right. Say "I'll call you right back" and hang up.
- Call your grandchild on the number you already have for them.
- If you cannot reach them, call their parents or another family member.
- Do not send money, buy gift cards or hand cash to anyone while you check.
- Agree on a family code word that only your family knows, and use it in any emergency call.
- Report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you already clicked, paid or shared information.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or a payment app, call your bank right away. Use the number on the back of your card or in the official app.
If you bought gift cards, call the gift card company right away and ask for a refund. Keep the cards and receipts.
If you used Western Union, MoneyGram or Ria, call them, report the transfer as fraud and ask for it to be reversed.
If you mailed cash or a check, report it to the US Postal Inspection Service.
If they say they will call or come back for more, do not answer. Scammers often return.
Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. People 60 and over can also call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
Tell your family. These calls are built to fool loving, careful grandparents. Talking about it helps protect everyone.
Money already sent? Start with the free C.A.L.M. recovery wizard or get step-by-step help. And watch out for anyone who offers to get it back for a fee.
Not sure about a message?
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Answer a few yes-or-no questions and see how risky it looks.
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How OwlGuardian helps
Make the next scam bounce off.
OwlGuardian does not screen phone calls, and no app can tell you whether a voice is real. The best defense is to hang up and call back. If a follow-up text or email arrives asking for payment, say "Hey Siri, call my Owl" to screenshot it and get a quick second opinion.
OwlGuardian quietly checks your parent's Gmail with AI, moves scam emails out of sight, and asks you before anything risky gets through. $4.99/month after a 30-day free trial.
Questions people ask.
Can scammers clone your grandchild's voice?
What should you do if you get a grandparent scam call?
How do I protect my grandparents from the grandparent scam?
What happens if you sent money in a grandparent scam?
Sources
- FCC: Grandparent scams get more sophisticated
- FTC: Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes (Mar 2023)
The example above is illustrative, written from the patterns official sources describe. Phone numbers and web addresses in it are fake.
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