The grandparent scam: “Grandma, I'm in trouble”
A panicked call from a grandchild who needs bail money quietly, tonight. It is a stranger — sometimes with an AI copy of their voice.
How it runs
A late-night call: your grandchild, crying, in jail or a crash somewhere far away — then a "lawyer" takes the phone and needs money now, by wire, gift cards, or a courier to your door. They beg you to keep it secret. Newer versions clone the grandchild's real voice from social media clips.
The defense is a ritual
- Hang up and call the grandchild's own number — or their parents. Ninety seconds of checking defeats the whole scam.
- Agree on a family code word this week, before anything happens. A caller who cannot say it is not family, whatever they sound like.
- Secrecy is the tell. Real emergencies survive telling other family. Scams cannot.
If money already moved
Call your bank immediately and ask them to recall the transfer, then report at ic3.gov and to the Indiana AG at 1-800-382-5516. If a courier is coming to your house, call your local police right away.
Not sure how exposed you are? Our free check shows which leaks your email is in — about one second, and you keep the answer. And if you are in the middle of something right now, a person answers at contact@protectindiana.org.