How it works

The scammer claims to be your grandchild, one of his or her friends, or a law enforcement officer The caller then makes up 
an urgent scenario requiring that money be sent immediately, e.g. your grandchild is in jail and needs bail money or became ill while traveling in a foreign country and needs money to come home. 

What you should know

  • A scammer can discover many personal details about someone via social media or through identity theft, so do not trust a caller at face value. 
  • If you receive a phone call of this nature, it is best to hang up and then try to verify the whereabouts of your grandchild by calling his or her cell phone directly or contacting his or her parents.