I was targeted by a grandparent scam and sent money — what should I do?
Stop sending money immediately, verify your grandchild is safe by calling them directly, and report to the FTC and local police. If money was sent recently, contact your bank.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The grandparent scam is an emergency impersonation scam where a caller pretends to be your grandchild (or a lawyer, bail bondsman, or police officer acting on their behalf), claims the grandchild has been arrested, hurt, or is stranded abroad, and urges you to send money immediately — often by cash courier pickup, wire transfer, or gift card.
The single most important thing you can do is verify directly with your grandchild. Hang up and call your grandchild on their known phone number, or call another family member who would know their whereabouts. Scammers rely on the panic of the moment to prevent this verification step. If your grandchild is safe at home, the call was a scam.
If you already sent money via a courier picking up cash, call your local police immediately and describe the courier. Cash courier pickup scams sometimes allow police to intercept the courier if reported quickly. For wire transfers or gift cards, follow the respective recovery processes — contact your bank for a wire recall, or call the gift card issuer to report potential fraud.
Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov. Also report to the USPS Inspection Service if the scam involved mailing cash. File a local police report — your report may help connect the dots in an ongoing investigation.
Common red flags
- Caller claims to be your grandchild and sounds upset or different (explains the voice as an injury)
- Told to keep the situation secret from other family members
- Bail bond or attorney demands cash pickup instead of court payment
- Extreme urgency — must pay within the hour
- Cash courier comes to your home or you are asked to wire money immediately
- Caller convinces you not to verify by creating more distress and urgency
What to do now
- Hang up and call your grandchild directly on their known number to verify they are safe
- If cash was already handed over, call local police immediately to describe the courier
- Contact your bank for a wire recall if money was sent that way
- Call gift card issuers if payment was made that way
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- File a local police report
Frequently asked questions
How did the scammer know my grandchild's name?
Scammers scrape social media to find family connections and names. They may also simply guess 'Grandma, it's me' and let the victim fill in the name themselves. You can also protect family by keeping social media profiles private.
What if the caller's voice sounds exactly like my grandchild?
AI voice cloning can now replicate a person's voice from a short clip of audio. Even a convincing-sounding voice is not proof of identity. Always verify by calling the person directly on their known number.