What is a Grandparent scam?

A grandparent scam is a type of scam where scammers target elderly individuals, pretending to be their grandchildren or other family members in urgent need of money. Typically, the scammer will call an elderly person and say something like, “Hi grandma, do you know who this is?” When the unsuspecting grandparent guesses the name of a grandchild the caller might sound like, the scammer has established a fake identity without much effort. 

Following this, they will usually explain a critical situation they are in—such as being in jail, in a hospital, or stranded in a foreign country—and plead for money to resolve the alleged problem.

How can you stay safe?

Grandparents should be instructed to always verify the caller’s identity through personal questions that a stranger could not possibly answer. They should also be advised to hang up and call their grandchild or another family member back using a phone number known to be genuine to confirm the situation.

Additionally, it’s important to discuss this scam with elderly family members and encourage them to be skeptical of urgent requests for money over the phone, especially if they are asked to use untraceable methods like wiring money or buying gift cards.