Of all the scams targeting seniors, the grandparent scam may be the cruelest. It exploits the most powerful instinct a person has — the desire to protect their grandchild from harm.

High alert — emotionally devastating

A grandparent receives a frantic call from someone claiming to be their grandchild saying they are in jail and need bail money. A "lawyer" gets on the phone. They beg the grandparent to keep it secret and send money right away — by wire transfer or gift cards.

How the call unfolds

The call starts: "Grandma? It's me. I'm in trouble and I need your help." The grandparent, startled, often says the grandchild's name first — "Tommy? Is that you?" — and the scammer immediately confirms it. "Yes, it's Tommy. Please don't tell Mom and Dad." From that moment, the scammer has everything they need.

Why it works

Scammers research families on social media before calling. They know grandchildren's names, schools, recent trips — all from public Facebook and Instagram posts. The request to keep it secret from parents prevents the grandparent from making a call that would immediately expose the scam.

The amounts are significant

These scams typically ask for $2,000 to $10,000. Some victims have lost $30,000 or more across multiple calls from the same operation.

Red flags
  • Frantic call from a "grandchild" who sounds slightly off
  • Request to keep it secret from parents
  • A "lawyer" takes over and provides payment instructions
  • Urgency — bail must be paid today, right now
  • Payment by wire transfer, gift cards, or cash via courier

What to do if you get this call

The most important step

Hang up and call your grandchild directly on the phone number you already have for them. This single action will immediately confirm whether the call was real. Do this before anything else.

Set up a family code word now

The best protection is a family code word — something only real family members know — agreed on before you ever need it. Also tell older family members explicitly: no legitimate bail process requires gift cards or wire transfers.

Written by Garland A. Hurt, Founder & Information Security Officer, ProtectMyCircle.

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