Who do grandparent scammers target and why?
Grandparent scammers target older adults, typically over 60, because they are more likely to have accessible savings, answer their phones, and respond instinctively to a family emergency.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
The grandparent scam is built on one of the strongest human instincts: protecting family. Scammers call an older adult, often impersonating a grandchild in distress or a lawyer or police officer speaking on the grandchild's behalf, and create a sudden crisis — a car accident, an arrest, a hospital stay — that requires immediate cash. The urgency and emotional charge override careful thinking.
Older adults are targeted partly because they are more likely to answer an unknown phone call. Younger people tend to screen calls and communicate by text, but an older person who grew up when the phone was the primary communication device is more likely to pick up and engage. Scammers count on this generational habit.
Accessible savings are another factor. Many people in their 60s and 70s have accumulated retirement funds or hold cash in accessible accounts. They may not be as digitally fluent when it comes to verifying claims quickly, and the panic manufactured by the scammer disrupts whatever scepticism they might otherwise apply.
Scammers also rely on isolation and the shame cycle. An older adult who lives alone, or whose children live far away, cannot quickly walk next door and ask someone to verify the story. And once they realise they have been deceived, many feel too embarrassed to report it or tell their family, which means the same person is sometimes targeted again. Understanding this dynamic helps families have supportive, non-blaming conversations that make it easier to ask for help early.
Common red flags
- Caller claims a grandchild is in trouble and urgently needs cash
- Insists you tell no one else in the family — 'don't worry grandma yet'
- Asks for payment in cash, gift cards, or wire transfer — not through a verifiable channel
- Voice sounds slightly different but caller explains it by saying they have a cold
- A second caller, claiming to be a lawyer or police officer, takes over the call
- The situation escalates to larger amounts shortly after the first payment
What to do now
- Hang up and call the grandchild directly on a number you already have saved
- Call another family member to verify the story before sending any money
- Establish a family code word that only real relatives would know
- Do not keep large amounts of cash accessible at home
- Report the call to the police and to your national consumer fraud authority
- Talk openly with older family members about this scam before it happens
Frequently asked questions
Can the grandparent scam happen by text as well?
Yes. A common variant starts with a text saying 'Hi Grandma it's me, I lost my phone, this is my new number.' Once the grandparent replies with the grandchild's name, the scammer has what they need to continue the fraud.
Why do scammers insist on secrecy?
Secrecy prevents the target from consulting someone who might quickly identify the fraud. It is a deliberate isolation tactic — the moment a second person hears the story, the scam often unravels immediately.