Scam guide

Family Emergency and Grandparent Scams

A call or text may claim that a child, grandchild, or friend is in trouble and needs money immediately. Scammers use urgency, secrecy, and sometimes voice cloning to keep you from checking the story.

Reviewed August 25, 2026

The short answer

Do not trust the voice or message by itself. Stop the conversation and contact the person using a number you already know. If they do not answer, check with another family member or trusted friend.

Common warning signs

The person says the emergency must stay secret from other family members.
You are pressured to pay immediately by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, cash courier, or payment app.
The message comes from a new number and explains why the usual phone cannot be used.
The caller sounds familiar but avoids questions or says there is no time to talk.
A supposed lawyer, police officer, doctor, or friend takes over and gives payment instructions.

What to do instead

Pause before sending anything. A real emergency can still be checked.
End the call or stop replying to the message.
Call the family member using the number already saved in your contacts.
If they do not answer, contact another relative or trusted person who can check on them.
Do not use payment instructions supplied by the unexpected caller or message.

If money was already sent

Contact the payment company or financial institution immediately and ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled.

Tell the bank, wire service, gift-card company, payment app, or cryptocurrency platform that the transaction resulted from fraud.
Keep receipts, phone numbers, messages, and transaction details; do not continue negotiating with the scammer.
Warn the family member whose identity was used so other relatives can be alerted.
Report the incident to the FTC and, when appropriate, local law enforcement.

Open Help Now

Practice this safely

Practice slowing down an urgent family text, using a known number, and confirming the story before money leaves the account.

Every story is fictional. There is no timer, no score, and no real message, payment, or account.

Start the four-story practice

Official sources

These links open official U.S. government guidance in a new tab. The destination is shown before you open it.

This page provides general educational information. It cannot determine whether a specific message is genuine, investigate an incident, or promise recovery or reimbursement.