Imposter & Emergency Scams

A caller pretends to be a grandchild or other close relative in serious trouble, begging for urgent cash before the family finds out. The urgency and shame angle stop victims from pausing to verify.

A fraudster contacts a victim claiming a family member is in immediate danger or financial crisis and needs urgent funds transferred right away. Unlike the grandparent scam, this variant targets people of all ages.

An employee receives an urgent message appearing to come from their manager or company executive asking them to purchase gift cards on the company's behalf and share the codes. The request is fraudulent.

An employee receives a text message appearing to be from the company CEO asking for a confidential wire transfer or sensitive action. The message is fraudulent and exploits corporate authority.

A caller claiming to be from your bank's fraud department says your account has been compromised and you must take urgent action — usually moving money to a 'safe account' or providing security credentials. Both requests are fraudulent.

A caller claims a family member has been arrested and needs bail money sent urgently before they can be released. The arrest is entirely fabricated.

A caller claims a family member has been seriously injured in an accident and that the victim must send money immediately to cover medical treatment or transport. The accident is invented.

A caller claims to have kidnapped a family member and demands an immediate ransom, but no one has actually been taken. The scam relies entirely on fear and the brief window before the victim can verify their relative is safe.

A caller posing as a lawyer contacts a family member claiming to represent a relative who has been arrested, and requests an urgent fee for legal representation or bail assistance. No arrest has occurred.

A message or call claims a family member travelling overseas has been robbed, lost their documents, or is otherwise stranded and needs emergency funds wired immediately. The situation is fabricated.

A caller posing as a consular or embassy official contacts a family member claiming their relative is being detained abroad and requires urgent payment for fees or fines before they can be released.

A scammer calls using a phone number with the same area code or prefix as the victim's own number, making the call appear to come from a nearby or familiar source. The familiar number makes the victim more likely to answer and comply.

A message arrives claiming to be from a known contact who has a new phone number, quickly followed by a request for money or personal information. The sender is a scammer, not the friend.

A caller claiming to be from a utility company says there is an urgent problem with the victim's account or service — an overdue bill, a technical fault, or an emergency situation — and demands immediate payment or personal details.

A person arrives at the door claiming to collect for a well-known or invented charity, often around disasters or seasonal appeals, and pressures the resident into an on-the-spot cash donation. No genuine charity funds ever reach the cause.

A caller posing as a bank fraud investigator convinces a victim their card has been compromised and arranges for a 'courier' to collect the physical card from their home for supposed safekeeping or replacement. The courier is the scammer's accomplice.

A person shows up claiming to be a police officer conducting an identity or safety check, using a fake badge and confident manner to gain entry to a home and either steal valuables or extract personal and financial information.

Someone poses as a local council or municipal official conducting a required inspection, survey, or benefit review, using official-sounding language and paperwork to gain entry to a home or extract personal and financial details.

A caller claims to be hospital staff informing the victim that a relative has been admitted after an accident or sudden illness, and requests urgent payment for treatment, transport, or paperwork before the family member can be seen or discharged.

A person claiming to be a social worker or child welfare officer contacts a parent or guardian, alleging a concern about their child that requires an urgent home visit, payment, or disclosure of personal details, exploiting fear over losing custody or facing an investigation.

A person arrives at the door claiming to be a debt collector or bailiff enforcing an unpaid bill or court judgment, demanding immediate cash payment or threatening to seize property, when no genuine debt or enforcement order exists.

A visitor or caller claims to be conducting an official government census or population survey, using the pretext to gather sensitive personal, financial, or household details, or to demand a payment for participation.