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    Emergency Scam Protection

    Protect Grandparents from Emergency Impersonation Scams

    Scammers may impersonate grandchildren and demand immediate money. ZoraSafe can check a suspicious contact, explain the warning signs, and help someone decide what to do next.

    Check an Urgent Request

    Emergency impersonation response

    What to Do If Your Grandparent Gets an Emergency Call

    How Grandparent Scams Work

    A scammer may call pretending to be a grandchild in urgent trouble, ask for secrecy, and demand money immediately. A familiar-sounding voice or caller ID is not enough to verify who is calling.

    1. Verify 1

      Hang Up and Verify

      If someone calls claiming to be a grandchild in trouble, hang up immediately and call the grandchild directly at their known number to verify. Do not use a number provided by the caller.

    2. Verify 2

      Contact Other Family Members

      Before sending any money, call the grandchild's parents or other family members to verify the emergency. Scammers rely on secrecy to succeed.

    3. Verify 3

      Never Send Money Immediately

      No real emergency requires sending money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency within minutes. Legitimate emergencies can wait for verification.

    4. Verify 4

      Ask Questions Only the Real Grandchild Would Know

      Ask specific questions about family details, childhood memories, or recent conversations. Scammers rely on generic information they find online.

    5. Verify 5

      Report the Scam Attempt

      Even if no money was sent, report grandparent scam attempts to the FTC, local police, and the FBI. This helps authorities track and stop these criminals.

    Verified emergency-request workflow

    How ZoraSafe Protects Grandparents from Emergency Scams

    ZoraSafe checks submitted content for emergency-scam patterns and explains safer next steps.

    Check the suspicious contact

    Ask ZoraSafe to review the call, message, or request you received.

    Use the family passphrase

    Ask for the shared passphrase before acting on an urgent request.

    Choose trusted support

    Share an important warning with a trusted person only when you choose.

    Family sharing is optional. Private activity is not shared by default; each person chooses what to share and who can help.

    Keep the limitation in mind: ZoraSafe helps assess risk; it does not guarantee detection or prevention.

    Use ZoraSafe on iPhone
    Current Family Passphrase screen for verifying urgent family requests.

    Trusted sources

    Report elder and impersonation fraud

    Use FBI elder-fraud guidance and IC3 reporting for internet-enabled crimes. Contact the bank or payment provider immediately if money was sent.

    Federal Bureau of InvestigationElder fraud guidanceReview impersonation schemes, warning signs, and steps to take after fraud.Visit official resource FBI Internet Crime Complaint CenterReport internet-enabled crimeFile an IC3 complaint when an impersonation scam involves internet-enabled activity.Visit official resource

    In immediate danger? Contact 911. ZoraSafe does not replace your bank, law enforcement, emergency services, or professional legal or financial advice.

    Keep learning

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    Browse the Scam Protection hub
    Phone Scam Protection for SeniorsCheck suspicious calls and phone numbers and get clear next steps
    Protect Elderly Parents from ScamsResources for adult children protecting parents

    Common questions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is a grandparent scam?

    A grandparent scam is when a criminal calls pretending to be a grandchild in urgent trouble—claiming to be in jail, hospitalized, or stranded—and pressures the grandparent to send money immediately via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Scammers often say 'do not tell Mom and Dad' to prevent verification.

    How do scammers know my grandchild's name?

    Scammers find names and personal information from social media profiles, online directories, and public records. Some start calls generically ('Hi Grandma, it is your grandson') and wait for the grandparent to say the grandchild's name, which the scammer then uses.

    Can scammers fake my grandchild's voice?

    Voice-cloning technology can make a scam call sound familiar. Do not rely on voice alone: hang up, call your grandchild at a known number, or use a family passphrase before sending money or personal information.

    What should I tell my grandparents to protect them from this scam?

    Use a shared family passphrase and tell grandparents to hang up and call back at a known number before sending money. Treat secrecy and pressure to act immediately as warning signs.

    What if my grandparent already sent money to a grandparent scammer?

    Act immediately: Contact the bank or money transfer service to attempt to reverse the transaction. File reports with local police, the FTC, and the FBI. ZoraSafe can help check future suspicious contacts, but no app can guarantee prevention.

    Check Emergency Requests Before Sending Money

    Check suspicious emergency contacts and choose whether to share an important warning with someone you trust. Available now on the Apple App Store for iPhone.

    Download ZoraSafe