Grandparent Scam: How to Spot It & What to Do
In the grandparent scam, someone calls pretending to be a grandchild — or a lawyer or officer helping them — who's in sudden trouble and needs money right away.
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How the grandparent scam works
They rely on panic and secrecy: an accident, an arrest, a hospital, always urgent, always “don't tell Mom or Dad.” The goal is to rush you into wiring money, buying gift cards, or handing cash to a courier before you can stop and verify.
Red flags to watch for
- An urgent call claiming a grandchild is in an accident, jail, or the hospital
- They ask you to keep it secret from the rest of the family
- They want gift cards, a wire, cash by courier, or cryptocurrency
- They discourage you from calling your grandchild's real number to check
What it looks like
“Grandma, it's me — I'm in trouble and need $500 in gift cards today. Please don't tell Mom.”
What to do
- Hang up and call your grandchild directly on the number you already have.
- Never send gift cards, wire money, or hand cash to anyone over a phone call.
- Ask a question only the real person would know.
- Report it to the FTC at 1-877-382-4357.
Is it a grandparent scam? Check it free.
Paste the call, text, email, or letter and get a plain-English answer in seconds.