A call like this is almost always a scam
Someone may call or message you claiming that a family member or close friend is in trouble. They may say the person is in jail, in a hospital, or has been in an accident. They will say money is needed right away.
Stop. Do not send money. Take time to check first.
This trick is often called the family emergency scam, or the grandparent scam. The emergency is not real. The person you love is almost always fine.
How the call goes
The caller may already know your name. They may know where you live. They may know details about your family. They can find these things on social media, or get them from a hacked email account. Knowing your name does not make the call real.
A second person may get on the line. This person pretends to be a lawyer, a police officer, or a doctor. They sound official. Their job is to scare you so you pay fast.
Scammers can now use artificial intelligence, called AI, to copy a loved one’s voice. They only need a short clip of sound, maybe from a video posted online. The voice on the phone can sound exactly like your family member.
A familiar voice is NOT proof. Even if it sounds exactly like your loved one, it can still be a scam.Then comes the demand for money. Scammers always ask to be paid in ways that are like handing over cash. Once you pay, the money is almost impossible to get back. They may ask you to:
- Wire money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram.
- Send cryptocurrency.
- Use a payment app.
- Buy gift cards and give them the numbers on the back.
The Federal Trade Commission’s rule is simple:
Anyone who demands payment in these ways is a scammer.
Three signs it is a scam
Every one of these scams shares the same three signs:
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1. It is urgent
They say you must act now. The rush is part of the trick. They do not want you to stop and think.
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2. They tell you to keep it secret
They say do not tell anyone. That is so nobody can talk you out of it, and nobody can help you check.
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3. They play on your feelings
They know you love your family. They use fear and love to push you to pay without stopping to check.
What to do instead
Follow these steps, in order. They work even if the voice sounds real.
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Do not act right away
Resist the pressure. Hang up. Or tell the caller you will call them right back.
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Call your family member yourself
Use a phone number you know is right. Never use a number the caller gives you.
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If you cannot reach them, call someone else
Call another family member or friend. Ask them to help you check.
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Ask for the family code word
Settle on a code word ahead of time: a secret word or phrase only your family knows. On any emergency call, ask for the word. If the caller does not know it, it is a scam. This is the FBI’s published suggestion for families.
A real emergency can wait the few minutes it takes to check. A scam cannot.
If you already sent money
Act right away. Speed gives you the best chance of help.
Contact the company you used to send the money. That may be the wire transfer service, your bank, or the gift card company. Tell them it was a scam, and ask what they can do.
Report it
Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission. Reporting helps stop these scams for everyone.
You can also read the FTC’s own page about this scam:
Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money — consumer.ftc.gov