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Printed from voicescam.com/scams/grandparent-scam/ · Updated 23 October 2026

The grandparent scam, now with a cloned voice

An older woman sitting by a window with a landline phone in her lap

A caller who sounds like your grandchild says they are in jail, hurt or in trouble and begs you to send money and keep it secret. Hang up, call your grandchild or their parents on numbers you already have, and never pay by gift card, cash courier or wire.

Do this now

  1. Hang up. You can call back in two minutes. A real problem will still be there.
  2. Call your grandchild on their own number, or call their parents.
  3. Ask a question only they would know, or ask for your family safe word.
  4. Do not hand cash to a courier or buy gift cards. A demand for cash or gift cards is a sign of a scam.

How the grandparent scam works

The script has barely changed in years. What has changed is that the voice on the line can now sound like the real grandchild.

  1. The call comes at an odd hour. Late at night or early in the morning, when you are tired and family are hard to reach.
  2. "It's me." The caller often lets you say the name first, then uses it.
  3. There is an emergency. An arrest, a car crash, a hospital stay, sometimes abroad.
  4. Someone official takes over. A "lawyer", "police officer" or "bail agent" explains what must be paid.
  5. They ask for secrecy and speed. "Please don't tell Mum and Dad." Payment must happen today.
  6. They come back for more. A second call asks for extra fees once the first payment lands.

What a cloned voice changes

Scammers used to rely on a bad line and on you filling in the gaps. Now they can copy a grandchild's voice from short clips posted online, so it sounds right from the first word. The Federal Trade Commission warns families not to trust the voice and to check the story by calling the person directly (FTC, 2023).

Older people report some of the largest losses to fraud. In 2025, people aged 60 and over reported losing more than $7.7 billion to the FBI's internet crime centre (IC3, 2026).

Warning signs on the call

  • You are asked to keep it secret from the rest of the family.
  • A second person takes the phone and gives payment instructions.
  • The payment is unusual: gift cards, cash collected at your door, a wire transfer or crypto.
  • The caller avoids personal questions or says they are too upset to talk.
  • The number is unknown, or they say they are using a friend's phone.

Real trouble or a scam?

What scammers say compared with what really happens
SituationWhat the scammer saysWhat really happens
ArrestPay bail now in cash or gift cardsA demand for bail in gift cards or cash by courier is a scam sign
HospitalPay before they will treat himHospitals treat first and bill later
SecrecyDo not tell anyoneA relative in real trouble wants family to know
CollectionA court officer will come to your doorSomeone sent to your door to collect cash is a scam sign
  1. Call your bank or the payment company now. Ask them to stop or recall the payment.
  2. If cash was collected, call the police straight away. Couriers sometimes return.
  3. Write down everything you remember: times, numbers, names and amounts.

Then follow what to do if you were scammed and how to report a scam call.

Talking to grandparents about it

  • Tell them about this scam before it happens. Knowing the script takes away its power.
  • Agree a family safe word and practise asking for it.
  • Put grandchildren's and parents' numbers in large print by the phone.
  • Make it clear nobody will be angry if they hang up on a real call by mistake.

What to say if they call back

Scammers often call again after a first payment, or ring a second time after you hang up. Decide your answer now so you do not have to think under pressure.

  • "I am going to call my grandchild myself. Goodbye."
  • "I do not send money on calls I did not expect."
  • "If this is real, the family will sort it out together."

Then hang up and ring a family member. The same kind of call can claim an accident or a hospital stay, as described in the family emergency call, or a kidnapping, as in ransom calls about a relative. For the full list, see all the scam calls we explain.

Sources

  1. Federal Trade Commission, consumer alert: "Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes". Published 20 March 2023. Checked 23 October 2026.
  2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, public service announcement: "Criminals use generative artificial intelligence to facilitate financial fraud". Published 3 December 2024. Checked 23 October 2026.
  3. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, elder fraud leaflet: "IC3 Elder Fraud in 2025". Published 2026. Checked 23 October 2026.

Common questions

Why do scammers target grandparents?

Grandparents are often at home, love their grandchildren and want to help quickly. Scammers also count on them being less likely to check with younger relatives first.

What if the caller knew my grandchild's name?

Names, schools and holiday plans are often visible on social media. Knowing details does not prove the caller is real. Call your grandchild back on their own number.

Can a courier who collected cash be traced?

Sometimes. Call the police straight away with a description, the time and anything the courier said. Doorbell or street cameras can help.

Should I tell my grandchild it happened?

Yes. They can warn others, check their own accounts, and make their online posts private.

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