The Grandparent Scam: A Holiday Warning for Families
This is my favorite time of year. As temperatures drop and spirits rise, the holiday season brings gatherings with loved ones, shared traditions, and moments of gratitude. But as we count down to year-end, it’s also an important time to remind ourselves—and the people we care about—of a less pleasant holiday reality: scams.
Scams surge during the holidays and come in many forms, from fake charities and debt collection schemes to imposter scams. Of them all, the “grandparent scam” is among the most disturbing. It preys directly on a grandparent’s instinct to protect their grandchildren, using fear, urgency, and deception to manipulate well-meaning people into acting quickly.
How the Grandparent Scam Works
Imagine receiving a late-night phone call from someone who sounds exactly like your grandchild. They’re frightened. They say they’ve been arrested—possibly in another state or even another country—and urgently need money. They beg you not to tell their parents because they’ll be angry or disappointed.
In another version, a stranger calls claiming to be a police officer, lawyer, or hospital employee. They inform you that your grandchild has been arrested, injured, or hospitalized and that immediate payment is required to resolve the situation.
For many grandparents, this scenario represents a worst-case nightmare. Faced with fear and urgency, most would do anything to help. Unfortunately, the money sent—often through wire transfers, gift cards, or cash apps—never reaches the grandchild. By the time the truth comes out, the scammer has vanished.
Why These Scams Are Increasing
The grandparent scam has existed for years, but it has grown more convincing and more common. Social media provides scammers with easy access to family connections, names, travel plans, and personal details. Even well-meaning posts can offer criminals the information they need to sound credible.
Adding to the danger, scammers now use artificial intelligence to clone voices. With only a short audio clip—sometimes taken from social media—they can convincingly mimic a loved one’s voice and hold a realistic conversation. This makes the scam far harder to detect.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones
Awareness and preparation are the strongest defenses. Here are practical steps every family should consider:
Be cautious with unexpected calls.
Treat any call requesting money—especially under pressure—as suspicious, even if the caller ID looks familiar. Phone numbers can be spoofed. Scammers thrive on urgency and fear.
Slow the situation down.
Scammers push for immediate payment and secrecy. If you receive such a call, hang up. Contact your family members directly using known phone numbers to confirm everyone’s safety.
Verify authority claims.
If someone claims to be law enforcement, a lawyer, or a medical professional, independently contact the agency or institution they claim to represent. Do not rely on phone numbers provided by the caller.
Never send money immediately.
Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cash apps are major red flags. Legitimate authorities do not operate this way.
Limit information sharing.
Do not volunteer names or personal details during a call. Let the caller provide the information. Stay calm—panic is the scammer’s greatest tool.
Review social media privacy settings.
Restrict public access to personal posts and photos. Avoid sharing details that reveal family relationships, travel plans, or daily routines.
Stay Informed and Use Available Resources
Several trusted organizations publish up-to-date information on scam prevention:
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers consumer guides on caller ID spoofing, robocalls, and call-blocking tools.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) publishes scam alerts, including those targeting older Americans.
The AARP Fraud Watch Network tracks scams by location and allows individuals to report suspicious activity.
A Shared Responsibility
Scams targeting older adults—especially grandparent scams—are likely to continue evolving as technology advances. As estate planning professionals, family members, and caregivers, we all share a responsibility to educate, prepare, and protect the people who trust us.
By recognizing warning signs, encouraging open communication, and using available resources, we can reduce the risk and help ensure that concern for loved ones is never exploited for criminal gain.
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