You are told to keep the situation secret from other family members.
A real emergency is not something you would be asked to hide from your spouse or other relatives. Secrecy is used to stop you from checking the story with someone else.
A family member needs money urgently
A call, text, or voice message claims your grandchild, child, or other relative is in trouble (arrested, in an accident, stranded) and needs money right away, often asking you to keep it secret.
Being pressured right now?
Hang up. Stop communicating. Call back using a number you find yourself. — from a bank card, a billing statement, or the official website you type in yourself. Do not use a number the caller gave you, texted you, or that appears on your caller ID.
If you read nothing else
If you read nothing else:
- Stop communicating, and do not move money, pay, or share codes while you are under pressure.
- You are told to keep the situation secret from other family members.
- Do not send money before independently confirming the story.
Why this is a red flag
The request is urgent and asks for unusual payment, like gift cards, wire transfer, or cash by courier.
These payment methods are fast and hard to reverse, which is why they are used instead of normal ones.
The voice sounds like your relative, but the story has small inconsistencies.
Voices can be cloned or imitated, and a bad phone connection is often used as an excuse for why the voice "sounds a little different."
A second caller claiming to be a lawyer, bail bondsman, or police officer joins the call.
This is a common technique to add false authority and urgency to the request.
What to do right now
Do this now
- Hang up and call your family member directly using a number you already have saved, not a number given to you on the call.
- If you cannot reach them, call another family member to check the story together.
- Agree on a family code word in advance for real emergencies, so you can verify quickly next time.
- Take your time. A real emergency can survive a few minutes spent confirming it.
What not to do
Don't do this
- Do not send money before independently confirming the story.
- Do not keep the call secret from other family members.
- Do not pay with gift cards, wire transfer, or cash handed to a courier.
- Do not assume the voice is real just because it sounds familiar, especially on a bad connection.
What to save
What to save
- The phone number that called, and the date and time.
- Notes on exactly what was said, including any names or details given.
- Any payment instructions or addresses provided.
- A recording or voicemail of the call, if you have one.
Common questions
Can scammers really clone a family member's voice with AI?
Voices can be cloned or imitated, and scammers often blame a "bad connection" for why the voice sounds a little different. Do not rely on the voice alone; verify by calling your relative back directly.
How do I check if a distress call is really my relative?
Hang up and call your family member directly using a number you already have saved, not a number given to you on the call. If you cannot reach them, call another family member to check the story together.
Why do they tell me not to tell anyone?
A real emergency is not something you would be asked to hide from your spouse or other relatives. Scammers ask for secrecy to stop you from checking the story with someone else.
What if I already sent money for a fake emergency?
Contact whichever bank, payment app, gift card company, or crypto exchange you used right away, and report it. Acting fast gives you the best chance, though recovery is not guaranteed.
Where to go next
If you already sent money, shared a code, or gave access to something, go to what to do now for next steps by what happened. If money, access, or personal information was shared, you can also go straight to where to report it.
Related situations: Someone wants me to move my money , Someone wants gift cards, crypto, or cash .
Sources
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Regulator guidance
Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money