Chapter 20
Grandparent and family emergency calls
What you'll get from this chapter: How the “grandchild in trouble” call works, why a second voice claiming to be a lawyer is part of the script, and how a family code word stops it.
In this chapter
- Words in this chapter
- Your steps
A voice that sounds like your child or grandchild is no longer proof that the caller is that person.
The call or the voicemail says there was a crash, an arrest, or a hospital bill. The voice may be a recording, or it may be generated from clips posted online. That kind of imitation is a . A second person may come on the line and claim to be a lawyer or a police officer. They ask for gift cards, a wire, or cryptocurrency, and they tell you not to call anyone else.
Hang up. Call the family member back on the number already saved in your phone, not the number that just called you. Agree on a now, before anyone needs it. A family code word is a private word or short phrase only your household knows. A real relative can say it. A stranger with a copied voice cannot.
Some phone scams need only one ring. The next chapter covers one-ring and premium-rate calls.
Words in this chapter
- . Audio or video generated to imitate a real person’s voice or face. A familiar voice on the phone is no longer proof.
- . A private word or short phrase your household agrees on in advance, so you can tell a real relative from a caller using a copied voice.