Grandparent Scams – What Seniors Should Know
Grandparent Scams – What Seniors Should Know
Grandparent scams exploit love for family. With AI voice cloning, they're frighteningly convincing. Use our Voice Scam Risk tool to evaluate emergency calls.
How They Work
Scammers call pretending to be grandchildren:
- "I've been in an accident"
- "I was arrested"
- "I'm stranded abroad"
- "Don't tell Mom and Dad"
Why They Succeed
- Emotional manipulation
- AI voice cloning from social media
- Urgency and secrecy
- Isolation from other family
Common Scenarios
- Bail money scam
- Accident scam
- Stranded traveler scam
- Medical emergency scam
Protection
- Establish family code word
- Always verify before sending money
- Ask personal questions
- Take your time
- Be suspicious of unusual payment methods
- Don't keep secrets
Visit Scam Text Analyzer, Identity Safety Guide, and Senior Safety Simulator.
Report AI Fraud to StopAiFraud.com →
Visit Safety Tools for more resources.
🛡️ Support the SAF Mission
These free tools are powered by community support. Help us protect more people from AI scams—every donation funds educational materials, fraud detection tools, and awareness programs.
Donate NowRelated Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is AI voice cloning?
A: AI voice cloning uses artificial intelligence to replicate someone's voice from audio samples. Scammers can create convincing fake audio of family members, executives, or authority figures using just a few seconds of voice data from social media, voicemails, or public recordings. This technology makes voice-based scams extremely convincing.
Q: How can I protect myself from voice scams?
A: Establish family code words for emergencies, always verify requests through known phone numbers, ask personal questions only the real person would know, request video calls for verification, be suspicious of urgency tactics, and limit public voice recordings on social media. Never send money based solely on a phone call without independent verification.
Q: What should I do if I receive a suspicious call?
A: Stay calm and don't let emotion override judgment. Ask specific personal questions to test the caller's knowledge. Tell them you'll call back at their known number. Do not provide personal information or send money. Hang up if you feel pressured. After the call, verify independently by calling the person or organization through official channels.
Stay Updated on AI Fraud
Get weekly alerts and insights delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to Newsletter