Key takeaways

Hang up and call the relative yourself on a number you already have. A real family member will not mind the delay, and a scammer cannot survive it.

  • The FTC says scammers pretend to be a grandchild or close friend in a crisis such as a car accident or an arrest, and may use a cloned voice.
  • Family emergency scams also arrive as texts from a “new number”. Scamwatch says most reports involve WhatsApp.
  • Real family members do not pressure you to wire money or buy gift cards. Scammers do.

Got a name, website, or phone number from the sender? Check the scam directory.

How a family emergency scam works

The FTC describes the core pitch: a caller pretends to be a family member or close friend, often a grandchild, who is in an urgent crisis such as a car accident or an arrest, and asks you to send money right away. The caller may also pretend to be a boss or another trusted contact. The FTC adds that scammers now use AI voice cloning to make the call sound like the real person.

A second version arrives by message instead of a call. Australia’s Scamwatch describes scammers, most often on WhatsApp, who say they have lost or damaged their phone and are writing from a new number. Some open with just “it’s me”. After building rapport, they ask for money for an urgent bill, a contractor, or a new phone, and explain the bank transfer by saying they cannot reach their online banking.

The ACCC, which runs Scamwatch, reported that more than 1,150 Australians lost a combined $2.6 million to this scam in the first seven months of 2022. People over 55 made 82% of the reports and accounted for 95% of reported losses. Those figures are from 2022, but the pitch is unchanged. For the voice side of the problem, see AI voice clone scams.

Eight warning signs

  1. A panicked caller who says they are a relative in trouble. The FTC says the caller pretends to be a family member or close friend, often a grandchild, in a crisis such as a car accident or an arrest, and asks for money right away. The story is built to make you act before you think.
  2. A voice that sounds right. Voice cloning means a familiar voice proves nothing. The FTC advises pausing before you send anything, even if the voice sounds exactly like your loved one. See AI voice clone scams.
  3. A message from a “new number”. Scamwatch describes scammers who say they lost or damaged their phone and are using a new number, usually on WhatsApp. Some open with only “it’s me”. Treat any unknown number that claims to be family as unverified.
  4. A reason they cannot use their own bank. In the text version, the scammer says they cannot access online banking, which is why you need to pay a bill or a contractor for them. A real person with a new phone can usually still reach their bank.
  5. Urgency that leaves no time to check. The FTC lists urgent pressure to act before you can check the story as a warning sign. The faster you are pushed, the more likely it is a script.
  6. A request to pay by wire transfer or gift card. The FTC says a real family member will not pressure you to wire money or buy gift cards, but a scammer will. See gift card scams and bank transfer scams.
  7. Requests for photos or personal details. Scamwatch notes that scammers may ask for personal details such as photos before or instead of money. Do not send photos, ID, or codes to an unverified number.
  8. A boss or other trusted contact asking for money. The FTC says the same method is used to impersonate a boss or another trusted contact. Confirm with the person through a different channel before you pay anything.

How to check a family emergency in two minutes

  1. Stop. Do not send money, and do not stay on the line. Say you will call right back.
  2. Contact the person on the number already saved in your phone. Scamwatch says that if the real person answers, the message was a scam.
  3. If you cannot reach them, try another contact method or call another relative who might know where they are.
  4. Ask a question only the real person could answer. Scamwatch suggests a personal question a scammer could not know. A family code word agreed in advance works the same way.
  5. Ask whether a real emergency exists and whether the caller is who they say they are. For the general method, read how to handle urgent payment requests.

If you already sent money

Speed matters. The FTC lists the first call by payment method. Do these in order.

  1. Contact the payment provider now. For a bank transfer, call your bank or credit union. For a payment app, report it to the app. For a wire, report it to the wire company. For a gift card, contact the issuer, say a scammer got the number and PIN, and keep the card and receipt. Ask each for a reversal or refund. Scamwatch notes that banks may be able to trace the money and block scam accounts.
  2. Cut contact. Do not reply again. Block the number.
  3. Protect your details. If you gave out photos, ID numbers, or codes, change passwords and contact your bank through its official number. In Australia, IDCARE offers free help.
  4. Report it officially. See the list below, even if the money cannot be recovered.
  5. Expect a follow-up. People who paid are called again, sometimes by a “recovery” service. Do not pay it. See recovery scams.

Where to report

More help from official sources

Scambaba is an independent educational project. Reporting and recovery options depend on where you live. How these guides are researched is on the editorial policy.

Frequently asked questions

What is a grandparent scam?

It is a family emergency scam in which a caller pretends to be a grandchild or other relative in trouble, such as after a car accident or an arrest, and asks for money immediately. The FTC says the caller may also pose as a boss or other trusted contact.

Can the voice be real and still be a scam?

Yes. The FTC says scammers use AI voice cloning to make these calls sound like the person they claim to be. A familiar voice is not proof. Hang up and call the person on a number you already have.

What is the “Hi Mum” scam?

It is the text or WhatsApp version. Scamwatch says the sender claims to have lost or damaged their phone and to be using a new number, then asks for money for a bill or a replacement phone. Contact the person on the number saved in your phone. If they answer, the message was a scam.

Who is targeted?

Anyone with relatives can be. In Scamwatch data for the first seven months of 2022, people over 55 made 82% of family impersonation reports and accounted for 95% of reported losses. Reporting patterns differ by country.

What if I cannot reach the relative?

Try another contact method or call someone else in the family who may know where they are. Do not send money until you have confirmed the story with someone you trust.