Grandparent Scam

By ZapScam Editorial Team · Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy

Phone scams cost Americans $1.4 billion in 2024, according to the FTC.

Quick Answer

The Grandparent Scam is a form of imposter scam where criminals pose as a grandchild or other relative in urgent need of money, stealing millions of dollars from victims annually.

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How It Works

A scammer calls an older adult, often starting with a deceptive greeting like, "Hi Grandma, do you know who this is?" This tricks the victim into revealing their grandchild's name, which the scammer then uses to build credibility.

The imposter, posing as the grandchild, creates a frantic story about being in an emergency. Common scenarios include being arrested and needing bail, getting into a car accident, or being stranded in a foreign country and needing money to get home.

To make the story more convincing, the scammer may hand the phone to an accomplice pretending to be a lawyer, police officer, or doctor. The scammer creates immense urgency and often insists on secrecy, pleading with the victim not to tell the grandchild's parents.

The scammer demands immediate payment through untraceable methods. They instruct the victim to send money via wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or by handing cash to a courier who comes to their home.

Modern twist: AI voice cloning. Scammers now scrape short audio clips from social media videos and voicemails, then use AI tools to clone a family member's voice in real time. The cloned voice makes the call nearly impossible to distinguish from a real one. Learn how AI voice cloning scams work →

Red Flags

⚠ An unexpected call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or relative in a crisis.
⚠ The caller creates a sense of extreme urgency and pressure to act immediately.
⚠ The caller begs you to keep the situation a secret from other family members.
⚠ Requests for payment via wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or cash pickup by a courier.
⚠ The story sounds suspicious or the caller's voice doesn't sound quite right, even if they use AI voice cloning.
⚠ Another person gets on the phone to act as a lawyer, bail bondsman, or police officer to confirm the story.
⚠ The caller ID appears to be from a familiar number, as scammers can use "spoofing" technology.

What to Do If Targeted

✓ Resist the urge to act immediately. Scammers create a false sense of urgency to prevent you from thinking clearly.
✓ Verify the story independently. Hang up and call the grandchild or family member directly using a phone number you know is legitimate.
✓ Ask the caller specific, personal questions that a stranger could not answer, such as the name of their first pet or a shared memory.
✓ Discuss the situation with a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor before sending any money.
✓ Never send cash, wire money, or provide gift card numbers to someone based on an unexpected phone call.
✓ If you have sent money, contact the payment service (bank, wire transfer company, gift card company) immediately to try and stop the transaction.

How to Report It

FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission. This helps law enforcement track and stop scammers.
FBI IC3 — Report the crime to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), especially if the scam involved online elements.
FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.

Key Statistics

Imposter scams, which include family emergency scams, were the top fraud category in 2023, with reported losses of $2.7 billion. — FTC 2024
From January through September 2023, the FBI IC3 received over 195 victim complaints specifically about grandparent scams, resulting in at least $1.9 million in losses. — FBI IC3 2023
When older adults (age 70+) lose money to fraud, they report much higher median losses than any other age group. — FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023
Scams starting with a phone call caused the highest per-person median loss in 2023, at $1,480. — FTC 2024
Losses reported by adults aged 60 and over to imposter scams increased eight-fold between 2020 and 2024, from $55 million to $445 million for losses over $100,000. — FTC 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

A grandparent scam is a type of fraud where a scammer contacts an older person pretending to be their grandchild or another relative in urgent trouble. The scammer fabricates an emergency, such as an arrest or a medical issue, to manipulate the victim into sending money immediately through untraceable methods like wire transfers or gift cards.

Scammers make their stories believable by gathering personal details from social media or obituaries. They also use tactics like creating a sense of urgency, insisting on secrecy, and even using AI voice cloning technology to mimic a loved one's voice, making it difficult to detect the fraud.

If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately. Do not send money or provide any personal information. Independently verify the situation by calling your grandchild or another family member at a phone number you know is theirs, not one provided by the caller.

While often called the 'grandparent scam,' this type of family emergency fraud targets people of all ages. Scammers prey on anyone's instinct to help a loved one in distress, making it crucial for everyone to be aware of the warning signs.

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