Emergency Scams: Common Signs and How to Protect Yourself

“Hey mom! This is Mia. I am in a bit of a jam – lost my wallet and phone. Texting from a friend’s number, so sadly can’t talk now. I need help getting home. Can you send some money to cover me for a couple of days? I will pay you back as soon as I get home. Thank you.”

Your first instinct upon receiving this kind of text may be to help, even if it sounds unlike what you would normally expect from your daughter. For all you know, she could genuinely be in trouble, and since you can’t reach her via phone calls, your best bet would be to grant her request now and ask questions later. And that is exactly what the scammer behind this text is banking on!

This scheme, which tugs at your emotions and urges you to act quickly, is an emergency scam or grandparent scam. It is often targeted at family members, especially seniors, who are generally considered more generous and trusting.

So, what red flags should you look out for and how can you protect yourself? Let’s find out in this blog post.

What You Should Know About Family Emergency Scams

Scammers are becoming smarter by the day by leveraging people’s vulnerabilities and using emotional manipulation, pressure, and cutting-edge technologies like voice cloning to trick victims into sending money. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, from January through September 2023, the losses from grandparent scams amounted to at least $1.9 million.

Scammers pretend to be a family member — presumably a child, grandchild, sibling, cousin, or in-law — in a dire situation that requires financial intervention. Before calling or texting their victims, they conduct detailed research on these individuals to know what scripts are most effective in springing them into action.

To appear more convincing, emergency scammers spoof the identities and contacts of their victims’ loved ones, with some even going as far as using a voice cloning program. So, when you receive a call from your grandchild’s phone number and hear her voice saying, “Hi grams. I was in an accident and need help paying off hospital bills. Can you transfer $1,000 to my account?”, you don’t think twice to send money.

When it comes to payment, they encourage the use of untraceable channels such as wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, which makes it harder to retrieve money that has already been sent. Ideally, these payment means should raise the eyebrows of any discerning target. However, scammers are sly about such requests and wouldn’t mind creating a fake hospital invoice in order to pull a fast one.

Grandparent Scam Signs

To protect yourself from becoming a victim, you need to look out for specific signs that give grandparent scams away. These signs can range from the tone and structure of the text or call to the content and details of the request. Let’s break down the most common red flags in detail:

A Sense of Urgency

Not all emergency messages and calls from loved ones are scams, which makes it quite tricky to tell genuine and phony situations apart, especially if the scammer knows so much about the bait and target that their messages or calls don’t seem out of place. However, most emergency scams come with a sense of urgency or panic because the scammers are eager to get the money as fast as possible before the victim realizes what is going on.

Using an Authority Figure to Sound More Convincing

For some targets, getting first-hand information from an affected family member about an emergency may not be convincing enough to trigger the desired action, especially when conveyed through texts. Since most scammers would avoid phone calls in the absence of voice cloning, they may opt to include a fake authority figure such as a police officer, travel agent, or boss to reinforce the claim, making it appear as if the loved one is in extreme danger and needs immediate assistance.

A good case in point is getting a call from a county police department officer who tells you that your daughter has been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) and that a bail hearing will commence in the next couple of hours. The caller then goes on to demand payment of a bail amount to secure her release. Of course, this sounds believable, as your daughter does drink from time to time, and you may not be able to contact her directly because she is in police custody.

However, what you might be missing out here is that bail is typically set by the judge during a bail hearing, and the police cannot demand payment outside of this formal process. Any request for such would be a red flag.

The Demand for Secrecy

Scammers know that a loved one in trouble or danger would feel embarrassed or scared and may not want others to know about it. It is the reason that they ask for secrecy in their requests and expect your empathy and understanding in this regard. So, suppose you get a message from your brother who is on a business trip in Mexico, claiming he has been arrested and won’t be released until a $5,000 payment is made. In that case, you would probably prefer to keep it confidential from other family members and friends, and this is what the scammers are hoping for.

Requests for Immediate Payment Through Unusual Channels

Scammers create a sense of urgency in grandparent scams by pressuring victims to provide financial help to solve the alleged problem. Payment channels like cryptocurrency, gift cards, and wire transfers enable scammers to collect money instantly with no hope of the victim recovering it.

Emergency Scam Prevention: Learn to Protect Yourself

Identifying the telltale signs of family emergency scams is one thing, but acting against the scammer is another. So, here is what you should do in this case:

Take Control of Your Emotions

Scammers want you to bite the bait of fear so you can make irrational decisions that may end up costing you a fortune. This is particularly effective when we learn about our loved ones running into trouble. However, you must put your emotions in check and analyze the situation logically, regardless of how dire it appears.

Call the Affected Individual Directly

To be sure that you are dealing with a real emergency, reach out to the affected family member directly at their right contact details and inquire about the situation. If they don’t pick up, don’t be quick to believe whatever the person on the other end of the line is saying and instead investigate further.

Find Out Who Is Actually Calling or Texting You

Of course, there is always the case of spoofed calls and texts with grandparent scams, so you must be extra careful before concluding that the person in danger is your loved one. Scammers, however, can also use their own contacts. So, whenever you don’t recognize the phone number or email address you have been contacted from, run it through Nuwber to check who you are dealing with.

Don’t Be in a Hurry to Send Money

Always take your time to review the situation and be sure the request is legitimate before sending money to the individual. Avoid making any rushed payments, especially if it doesn’t align with the typical character of your loved one.

Don’t Send Money Through Unfamiliar or Questionable Channels

If you eventually do decide to send money, never engage in untraceable transactions such as the use of gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Such channels make it impossible for the police to recover your money if you become a victim of fraud.

Notify Someone Else You Trust About the Situation

You want to be sure you are not making a rash decision, which is why it is important to notify another family member about the emergency. Ask for their opinion on the situation and share the conversation you had with the caller or texter in question.

Conclusion

Emergency scams are increasing in frequency and sophistication, so you must protect yourself by staying informed about the latest techniques and common signs of this fraud, some of which are outlined in this blog post. Remember to implement the tips discussed, from controlling your emotions to verifying the person’s identity, and get in touch with the authorities for further assistance if the situation becomes overwhelming.

FAQ

How do I tell if someone actually needs help or if it is a scam?

The most effective solution in this case is to call your family member at their real number. If they don’t pick up, reverse search the number you are contacted from to see who owns it.

What are the most common signs of family emergency scams?

Urgency, using an authority figure, the demand for secrecy, and requests for immediate payment (usually through questionable means) are the main giveaway signs of emergency scams.

What should I do if I have already fallen victim to a grandparent scam?

Notify your bank about the fraud and freeze all affected accounts immediately to prevent further financial damage. You should also file a formal complaint with your local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission.

How should I respond when a scammer targets someone close to me?

Encourage them to double-check the situation independently in advance before sending money or any personal information. It’s also a good idea to involve other trustworthy people, such as their family members, friends, or police to step in and stop them from falling for a scam.

In what way can I prevent my information from being exploited by scammers?

You need to set up strong privacy settings on social media to limit the information scammers can gather about you and your connections. Be cautious about sharing personal information online, and always verify users behind friend requests before accepting them.

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