Grandparent and family emergency scam calls

How the call usually goes

A young voice says, "Grandma, it's me." They sound upset. They say they caused a car accident and are in jail, or someone was hurt.

Then someone else may come on the line. The FTC says scammers pose as a lawyer, police officer or doctor helping your family member. The FBI says the money is for things like legal fees, bail or medical bills.

It's urgent, you're the only one who can help, and you're asked to keep it secret. The caller may know real names or details. The FTC says scammers can get these from social media or a hacked email account.

How they ask for the money

The FTC lists wire transfers through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram, cryptocurrency, payment apps, and gift card numbers. Money sent these ways is hard to get back.

The FBI has also warned about cash. Some victims were told to mail cash hidden in magazines or books. Others were told a courier, sometimes a rideshare driver, would pick it up at their home.

What about AI voice cloning?

The advice is the same. The FTC says a scammer needs only a short clip of a family member's voice, which can come from something posted online, plus a voice-cloning program. The NC Department of Justice warns AI can make a recording that sounds just like your grandchild.

So the voice alone can't tell you who is calling. The FTC's advice: don't trust the voice. Hang up and call your family member yourself.

What to do if you get one of these calls

The FTC sums it up: slow down and verify.

• Don't send money, buy gift cards or take out cash while on the call.
• Hang up, or say you'll call back.
• Call your family member at a number you know is theirs.
• If you can't reach them, call another relative or a friend, even if you were told to keep it secret.
• Never hand cash to someone who comes to your door to collect it for a relative.

Set up a family code word

The FBI suggests picking a secret word or phrase with your family. If someone calls in a crisis, ask for it. A scammer is unlikely to know it, even with a cloned voice. Pick something that isn't posted online.

For more ways to help an older relative, see protecting an older parent from scam calls.

If you already sent money

The FTC says the sooner you act, the better. Contact your bank, the wire transfer company or the gift card company right away. Tell them it was a scam and ask for a refund.

Then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. In North Carolina, also call the NC Department of Justice at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or file at ncdoj.gov/file-a-complaint.

For what to do next, like freezing your credit if you shared personal details, see what to do after a scam call.

How Nexus handles it

People in your contacts always ring and are never blocked, so a grandchild calling from their saved number reaches you as before.

Numbers on the spam list are refused, and most callers you don't know are asked who they are before your phone rings. An automated assistant asks who's calling and why. Callers are told the call is being screened and may be transcribed. Anthropic's Claude reads what the caller says to decide what to do.

A relative calling from a hospital or a friend's phone can say who they are. Real callers are put through or leave a voicemail turned into text you can read.

Nexus works on Android and iPhone. You keep your own number and carrier. More about how it works is on the About page.

Nexus is invite-only. The price is on the wait list page, and you can cancel yourself any time.

Common questions

Sources

• FTC: Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money
• FTC: Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes
• FBI IC3: Grandparent scams using couriers and mailed cash
• FBI IC3: Criminals use generative AI to facilitate fraud
• NC DOJ: Senior Scams