Glossary
Phone scam terms, in plain words
Short explanations of the words you’ll see in scam warnings and news, with links to how each scam works.
- Caller ID spoofing
- Making a phone call show a fake name or number, such as your bank, a government agency or a local number. Caller ID alone does not prove who is calling. Learn more
- Vishing
- Voice phishing: a scam carried out over a phone call, where the caller tries to get money, account access or personal numbers.
- Smishing
- Phishing by text message, such as a fake «unpaid toll» or delivery text with a link. Some texts ask you to call a number instead.
- Robocall
- An automated, prerecorded call. Many are illegal sales or scam calls; some lead to a live scammer if you press a key.
- AI voice cloning
- Using software to imitate a real person’s voice from short recordings. The FBI warns criminals use AI-generated audio to impersonate relatives in a crisis. Learn more
- Grandparent scam
- A caller pretends to be a grandchild or relative in trouble, often «in jail», and asks for bail money in secret. A fake lawyer and a cash courier often follow. Learn more
- Family emergency scam
- Another name for the grandparent scam, when the caller poses as any family member in urgent trouble. Learn more
- Government impersonation scam
- A caller pretends to be Social Security, the IRS, Medicare, a court, the FTC or the police, and demands payment or personal numbers under threat of arrest or fines. Learn more
- Phantom hacker scam
- A multi-step scam where fake tech support, then a fake bank and then a fake government agent convince the victim to move savings «for safekeeping». Learn more
- «Safe account» scam
- A caller says your account is hacked and tells you to move money to a «safe account», withdraw cash or buy gold. Real banks never ask this. Learn more
- Tech support scam
- A pop-up or call claims your computer is infected, then the «support agent» takes remote control and charges for fake repairs or a fake refund. Learn more
- Refund or overpayment scam
- Scammers fake a refund that is too large, then ask you to send back the «extra» by wire, cash or gift cards. Learn more
- Remote access
- Software that lets another person control your computer or phone. Never give it to someone who called you or whom you called from a pop-up.
- One-time passcode (OTP)
- A short code sent by text or email to confirm it’s you. Anyone who asks you to read it out on a call is trying to get into your account.
- Prize or sweepstakes scam
- A caller says you won money or a car but must pay taxes or fees first. Real prizes never cost money to collect. Learn more
- Gift card scam
- Any demand to pay a bill, fine or fee with gift cards and read out the numbers. Real agencies and companies never ask for this. Learn more
- Bitcoin ATM (crypto kiosk)
- A machine that turns cash into cryptocurrency. Scammers tell victims to deposit cash there and scan a code; the money is very hard to get back. Learn more
- Cash courier
- A person sent by scammers to pick up cash or gold at the victim’s home. If a courier is on the way, call 911. Learn more
- Money mule
- Someone who moves money for criminals, knowingly or not, often recruited through romance or job scams.
- Recovery scam
- After a scam, someone offers to get the lost money back for a fee. It is usually the same scammers or new ones.
- Romance scam
- A scammer builds an online relationship, then asks for money for emergencies, travel or «investments».
- Elder fraud
- Financial fraud aimed at people 60 and older. In the US it can be reported to the FTC and the FBI’s IC3, and the National Elder Fraud Hotline (833-372-8311) helps victims. Learn more
- Call forwarding
- A phone setting that sends incoming calls to another number. FamilyDefender uses it to check unknown calls; it should be removed when protection ends. Learn more