Don’t Get Caught in a Grandparent Scam

You may have heard about grandparent scams in the news. While these scams have been around for many years, they have gotten a lot more sophisticated in recent years and can be difficult to spot. These scams prey on the elderly by taking advantage of perceived frailty or lack of a technology familiarity. Here’s what you need to know about grandparent scams and how to avoid them.

How the scams play out

There are several variations of the grandparent scam. In each one, the caller will claim to be a grandchild of the target. The scammer will often spoof the caller ID number so it shows up on the grandparent’s phone as their grandchild’s number.

• The legal trouble scam. In this version of the scam, a scammer who claims to be the grandchild of the target will call and claim to have been arrested. The “grandchild” will ask their grandparent to send money to post bail. They may also ask for funds to pay for legal representation. They’ll pass the phone to an alleged representative to accept the funds via wire transfer or gift cards. Of course, this is just another scammer who is in on the crime.
•  The medical trouble scam. This version of the grandparent scam involves a “grandchild” calling up a grandparent and claiming to be seriously injured. They will ask for money to help pay the medical bills.
• The international trouble scam. Most common during times when teens and/or young adults are likely to be traveling, such as during spring break or summer vacation, in this scam, a “grandchild” will call and claim they’re in deep trouble while in a foreign country. They will ask for a large sum of money via wire transfer or prepaid debit card to help them get out safely.

If you’re targeted

If you believe you’ve been targeted by any of these grandparent scams or a similar ruse, follow these steps to keep yourself safe:

• Don’t take immediate action. The grandparent scam, like most scams, relies on creating a false sense of urgency so the target has very little time to stop and think about what’s taking place. Beat them at their game by taking a step back and thinking rationally about the call you’re receiving.
• Ask a personal question. Your grandchild’s name may be on the caller ID and the caller may sound like them – but is it really them on the phone? Ask the caller to answer a personal question only your grandchild would know, such as a family memory, an important date or a personal question that a stranger wouldn’t know the answer to.
• Check your grandchild’s whereabouts. If you’re still unsure if it’s actually your grandchild that is calling you, use another phone, or hang up on the call, and call your grandchild on your own.
• Hang up and report the crime. Once you’ve verified that you’ve been targeted by a scammer, hang up and report the scam to the local police. Share as much information as you can, including. It’s also a good idea to alert the FTC about the scam. If you’ve lost money through the scam, the FTC can help you determine your best next steps.

Safety rules to know

It’s a good idea to follow these rules for protection from grandparent scams and other ruses:

• Never share personal information online or on the phone with an unverified contact.
• If you’re asked to pay for something via money transfer or prepaid gift card, you’re likely dealing with a scammer.
• Put your number on the government’s do not call list to limit the number of scammers who target your phone.
• Keep your social media privacy settings at their strongest and limit what you share on public pages.