Scammers are always trying to find their next victim, and grandparents are no exception. Cybercriminals trick grandparents by pretending to be their grandchild in trouble. They use this scam to get money from the grandparents. Here are a few elements of the Grandparent Scam to be aware of:
- Scammers pretend to be your grandchild and typically call in the middle of the night
- They tell you they are in some sort of trouble and need your help
- They tell you to keep it a secret and not to tell their parents
- There is often a second person that poses as an official who validates the claim
- They ask you to wire money, or send it another way, to get them out of trouble
From 2015 to early 2020, the Federal Trade Commission received over 91,000 reports of scammers. The scammers pretended to be a family member or friend of the victim. This information was reported by AARP.
Since then, the scammers have only gotten smarter now using AI to enhance their voices. The FTC reports that scammers are using AI to clone loved one's voice to make the call feel more real. It might be hard, but don't always trust that voice, especially if they start asking for you to wire transfer money. The best plan is to hang up and call back that person on a number you know if theirs to verify the story.
If this has happened to you, you can report any fraud to the FTC by calling 877-382-4357. Learn more about the Grandparent Scam.