The Grandparent Scam

Reviewed by Aaron Kramer, Two Birds Innovation · Last reviewed: March 2026

⚠️ Key warning sign: A caller asking you to keep an emergency "secret from the family" is a criminal. Real emergencies do not require secrecy. The secrecy instruction is specifically designed to prevent you from verifying the story with someone who would catch the lie.

How the scam works — step by step

  1. You receive a call from someone who sounds distressed. They say: "Grandma? It's me." You say a name — your grandchild's — and they confirm it.
  2. They claim to be in serious trouble: arrested in another city or country, in a car accident, hospitalised, or detained by customs. They say they need money urgently.
  3. A second person comes on the line — a "lawyer," "bail bondsman," or "police officer" — who explains the situation and demands immediate payment.
  4. They specify the amount ($2,000–$10,000 is common), tell you it must be cash sent by courier or wire, and instruct you to keep it secret from other family members "to protect your grandchild's reputation."
  5. They may call back multiple times with "new developments" requiring more money.

How criminals find your information

Scammers research their targets using social media. If your grandchild's Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok account is public, criminals can learn their name, your name, the city they live in, recent trips, and relationships. This makes the initial call sound credible.

This is one reason it is worth checking whether your family members' social media accounts are set to "Friends Only" rather than public.

What to do immediately

  1. Stay calm. Tell the caller you need to call your grandchild back on the number you already have.
  2. Hang up.
  3. Call your grandchild directly — or call their parents.
  4. If the original caller tries to stop you from hanging up or calling independently, that confirms it is a scam.
  5. Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: 1-888-495-8501.
Create a family code word

One practical defence: agree on a code word with your grandchildren — a word only your real family would know. If someone claiming to be your grandchild cannot provide the code word, it is not them. This is a simple, powerful protection against this scam.

Report this scam
If you have experienced this scam, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or at antifraudcentre.ca. Reporting helps protect other Canadians.
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Sources & References