Scam type
Grandparent scams and fake family emergencies
In a grandparent scam, a caller pretends to be a grandchild or other relative in trouble, often «in jail» after an accident, and asks for bail money right away and in secret. A fake lawyer or court official usually takes over the call, and a courier may come to the door for cash. Some scammers now use computer-generated voices that sound like a real family member.
How the call works
- The call often comes from an unfamiliar number: «my phone was taken».
- The «relative» is crying or panicked, then hands the phone to a «lawyer», «public defender» or «court official».
- They ask for cash bail now and say not to tell the rest of the family.
- A «courier» comes to the house to collect the money, and a second, bigger demand often follows.
How it often sounds
- «Grandma, it’s me. I’m in jail, please don’t tell Mom.»
- «I’m the public defender. Bail is $15,000 and it has to be cash today.»
- «A courier will come by to pick it up.»
Typical lines described by officials and news reports.
Red flags
- Secrecy: «don’t tell Mom and Dad»
- A lawyer or court official joins the call
- Cash only, right now
- Someone is coming to the house to collect money
- The voice sounds right, but the number is new
What to do
- Hang up and call the relative, or their parent, on the number you already have.
- Agree on a family code word and ask for it in any emergency call.
- Never hand cash to a courier. If one is on the way, call 911.
Real cases
- Scam caseAI Voice Clone Scam: A Mother Paid $15,000 “Bail” After Hearing Her Daughter CryA Florida mother heard what sounded like her daughter sobbing, then paid $15,000 in cash bail to a courier. How the AI voice scam worked and how to stop it.
- Scam caseGrandparent Scam With Cash Couriers: How a Bronx Man Was Charged for Collecting Fake BailFederal prosecutors charged a Bronx man with picking up cash from grandparents told their grandchild was in jail. How the scam works and the warning signs.
Questions
Can scammers really copy a family member’s voice?
The FBI warns that criminals use AI-generated audio to impersonate relatives in a crisis. That’s why calling back on a known number, or asking for a family code word, matters more than how the voice sounds.
Do real courts send couriers to collect bail?
No. Bail is not collected by a stranger at your door. If someone is coming to pick up cash, it is a scam: don’t open the door, and call 911.
What if the money is already gone?
Call the bank right away and report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov. The National Elder Fraud Hotline, 833-372-8311, can help with next steps.