Grandparents scams are increasing, and it’s a major problem.
Officials with the state Division of Consumer Protection is working to empower grandparents to outsmart scammers who prey on them.
With the common grandparent scam, criminals impersonate someone trying to help a loved one so they can trick them into sending money.
Multiple grandparent scam scenarios have been reported and the number of reported incidents continues to increase. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission received over 12,700 complaints from people ages 60 and older about scammers claiming to be family members or friends in trouble to trick people in providing money. These reports added up to $23.8 million in total losses.
“The grandparent scam has been around for years, but criminals are getting bolder by even showing up at an individual’s home. It’s one of the top scams targeting older consumers,” said Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez. “Criminals orchestrating this fraud use clever schemes and add new twists to this old trick. They systematically target older consumers and exploit the special relationship grandparents have with their grandchildren. Many of these schemes go unreported, so it’s important to raise awareness to help prevent these scams.”
Common Elements of a Grandparents Scam
- Impersonation of Family – Scammers exploit grandparents’ love by pretending to be a grandchild or relative in need of emergency cash. This scam starts with a call or text from a fraudster posing as a panicked grandchild or family member who is in trouble and requires immediate financial assistance. In some scam scenarios, the scammer impersonates an arresting police officer, a lawyer, or a doctor, who is calling on behalf of the relative in trouble.
- Urgent and Immediate Need for Money – To create a sense of urgency, the caller may claim to be hospitalized, in jail or stuck in a foreign country. In all cases, the scammers ask that money be sent immediately. Scammers often try to pressure victims into transferring money through a mobile payment app, by wiring money, or by purchasing gift cards or money orders. A new variation of this con has surfaced recently where the scammer pressures victims to put money in an envelope to be picked up at their house by a courier. Several incidents of courier pickups have been reported throughout New York State over the past year.
- Insistence on Secrecy – The caller insists that parents or other family members not be informed. The scammer may claim there is no time to speak to others or that the grandchild will be embarrassed if other family members know about the situation. The scam artists know that once you contact another family member, you will likely discover the scam.
How To Avoid the Ever-Evolving Grandparent Scam
- Resist the urge to act immediately no matter how dramatic the story
- Don’t engage with the caller or reply to the text. Contact the grandchild or family member directly to confirm the story.
- Don’t give your address, personal information, or cash to anyone who contacts you. Scammers will likely ask you to send them a gift card, wire money, or offer to pick up cash at your home. They prefer these methods because they are difficult to trace.
- Check your social media privacy settings since most social media is public by default, and be careful of what information you put online. Social media is an easy place for scammers to find personal information they can use to prey on the fears of grandparents.
- To learn more about scams targeting older consumers, please see these tips to learn more about how to protect against fraud targeting seniors.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.
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