Grandparent Scams: Protect Your Family from Impostor Calls
Scammers call pretending to be a grandchild in trouble, begging for money. For people 60 and over, scams that start with a phone call carry the highest median loss of any contact method the FTC tracks: $2,210 in 2024. Learn how to stop them.
By the Numbers
- $2,210 — Median loss for people 60+ when a scam started with a phone call, 2024 (FTC, 2025)
- $5M+ — Reported lost in 2025 to “distress” scams, including grandparent scams, that clone a loved one’s voice (FBI IC3, 2025)
What is a grandparent scam?
The grandparent scam is a cruel form of elder fraud where scammers impersonate a grandchild or other young relative. They call claiming to be in an emergency — a car accident, jail, or hospital — and beg for money immediately. They often say "Don't tell Mom and Dad" to prevent verification.
- Caller impersonates a grandchild or young family member
- Claims to be in an emergency: arrested, in a car accident, or hospitalized
- Begs for immediate wire transfer or gift card payment
- Says "Please don't tell Mom and Dad" to isolate the victim
- May use AI voice cloning to sound like the real grandchild
- Often involves a fake "lawyer" or "police officer" who takes over the call
How the scam works
1. The emotional call
Your phone rings and a panicked voice says "Grandma? Grandpa? It's me!" The voice sounds distressed. When you guess a name, they confirm it and launch into their story.
2. The emergency
They claim they've been in a car accident, arrested for DUI, or are stranded in a foreign country. The story is designed to trigger an immediate emotional response.
3. The secrecy
"Please don't tell Mom or Dad — I'm so embarrassed." This isolates the grandparent and prevents them from verifying the story with other family members.
4. The money demand
A fake "lawyer" or "bail bondsman" takes over and directs the grandparent to send $3,000–$15,000 via wire transfer, gift cards, or cash in an envelope.
Warning signs
- A caller says "It's me, Grandma/Grandpa!" and waits for you to guess their name
- They claim to be in jail, a hospital, or stranded and need money immediately
- They beg you not to tell other family members
- A "lawyer" or "officer" takes over the call to collect payment
- They request payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cash
- The caller's voice sounds slightly off or robotic (possible AI clone)
- They can't answer specific family questions correctly
How Gini helps
AI screens every unknown call
Gini answers unknown calls first and asks the caller to identify themselves. Scammers impersonating a grandchild are immediately caught because they can't fool an AI assistant.
Impostors never reach your loved one
Because Gini screens the call, the scammer never gets the chance to emotionally manipulate your grandparent. The scam depends on surprise — Gini eliminates that.
Real-time emotional manipulation detection
If a call does connect, Gini monitors for grandparent scam patterns: urgency, secrecy requests, and payment demands. It alerts your loved one immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do scammers know my grandchild's name?
Most of the time, they don't. They say "It's me!" and wait for you to guess. Once you say a name, they confirm it. Some scammers harvest names from social media profiles. Gini eliminates this risk by screening the call before it reaches you.
Can scammers really clone my grandchild's voice?
Yes, with just a few seconds of audio from social media or a previous call, AI voice cloning can create a convincing imitation. This makes call screening even more important — Gini verifies callers before connecting them to you.
What should I do if I think my grandparent received this scam?
Hang up immediately and call your grandchild directly using the number you have saved. Report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If money was sent, contact the wire service or gift card company immediately to try to recover funds.
How does Gini protect my elderly parents or grandparents?
Set up Gini on their phone — it takes 5 minutes. Every unknown call is screened by AI before it rings through. Family members and known contacts always ring through normally. You can also monitor their call protection from your own Gini account.
Other scam guides
- Medicare Scams — Scammers call posing as Medicare agents to steal your Medicare number, your personal information and your benefits.
- IRS Scams — Scammers call pretending to be from the IRS, claim you owe back taxes and threaten arrest.
- Romance Scams — A romance scam is not one bad phone call.
- Social Security Scams — Scammers pose as the Social Security Administration, threaten to suspend your SSN and demand immediate payment.
- Jury Duty Scams — The call says you missed jury duty, a warrant has been issued, and you can pay a fine right now to avoid being arrested.
- Sweepstakes and Lottery Scams — The call says you have won a sweepstakes, a lottery, or a new car, and all that is left is a small payment for taxes, customs, or processing.
- AI Voice Cloning Scams — Scammers now use AI to clone a loved one's voice from just seconds of audio, then call begging for emergency money.