When Scammers Call Grandma: How the Grandparent Scam is Evolving and What You Can Do About It
Picture this all-too-common scene:
You’re a grandparent enjoying a quiet afternoon when the phone rings. The voice on the other end sounds just like your grandson. He tells you that he’s in trouble—there’s been a car accident, or he’s been arrested—and urgently needs money—for bail or medical expenses. He is in distress, and he needs you. The panic sets in. There’s no time to think. Before you know it, you follow instructions to withdraw cash, place it in an envelope, and hand it over to a courier who arrives at your door within the hour.
But it’s not your grandson. It’s a scammer.
This fraudulent scheme, known as the grandparent scam, has been around for years. However, criminals are refining their methods, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), social engineering, and modern technology to make their deception even more convincing. The recent film Thelma spotlighted the psychological impact of such scams, showing how AI-generated voices can mimic loved ones with chilling accuracy. Even more troubling, fraudsters are now using rideshare services as unwitting accomplices, making it more challenging than ever for law enforcement and private investigators to track illicit transactions.
How the Grandparent Scam Works
The grandparent scam typically begins with an unexpected phone call. The scammer, posing as a grandchild, a law enforcement officer, or an attorney, claims that an urgent crisis has occurred—often a car accident, a DUI arrest, or a medical emergency. The urgency and apparent distress of a loved one is a strong emotional trigger that puts the victim into a state of panic where logic flies out the window. The scammer then pressures the victim into taking immediate financial action and warns/begs them not to contact other family members.
Previously, these scams relied on victims wiring money or purchasing gift cards. Today, scammers may prefer cryptocurrency or go old school by demanding cash. They are updating their approach, incorporating new technologies (like AI-generated voices), and hacking into legitimate services for illegitimate purposes.
How Scammers Exploit Rideshare Services
One of the most concerning developments in this scam is how rideshare couriers are exploited to collect the stolen funds. In this variation, scammers instruct victims to withdraw cash, seal it in an envelope, and provide a description of the package. Then, they hire a rideshare driver—often under false pretenses—to pick it up and deliver it to an undisclosed location. The scammer keeps the victim on the phone during the transaction to ensure that the victim does not interact with the driver or ask questions that could disrupt the fraud.
Many rideshare drivers have no idea they are participating in a scam. They believe they are simply picking up and delivering a package for a legitimate customer. Meanwhile, the scammer remains completely anonymous, further complicating efforts by law enforcement or private investigators to track them down.
Having investigated these cases firsthand, I strongly encourage victims and their families to explore legal action against rideshare companies that fail to implement safeguards. These companies must take responsibility for preventing their platforms from being exploited in criminal activity.
Elder Fraud: A Growing and Underreported Crisis
The grandparent scam is just one example of elder fraud. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), millions of seniors fall victim to financial scams yearly, causing billions of dollars in losses. Many cases go unreported due to shame, embarrassment, or fear of losing financial independence. Scammers target older adults because they are often trusting, financially stable, and unfamiliar with evolving digital threats.
In 2023, the FBI reported only 200 grandparent scams, totaling almost $2 million in losses; however, experts believe the actual number is vastly underestimated. Given the rapid advancement of AI-driven fraud, these numbers are expected to rise unless proactive measures are taken.
How to Protect Your Loved Ones
Preventing these scams requires education, vigilance, and proactive communication. Here’s how families can safeguard their elderly relatives:
- Verify the Caller’s Identity – If you receive a distressing call from a relative, hang up and call them back using a known phone number. Never rely on caller ID alone, as scammers use spoofing technology to manipulate phone numbers.
- Establish a Family Code Word – Create a unique code word that only close family members know. If someone calls claiming to be a relative in trouble, they should be able to provide this word as verification.
- Encourage Healthy Skepticism – Discuss common scam tactics with elderly relatives and empower them to question suspicious requests. Remind them that law enforcement will never demand immediate payment over the phone.
- Limit Social Media Sharing – Scammers often gather personal details from social media and other platforms to make their stories more convincing.Encourage seniors to adjust their privacy settings and avoid posting sensitive information, such as travel plans, intimate family details, or relationships.
- Recognize Red Flags — If a caller pressures secrecy, insists on immediate financial assistance, or demands payment in cash, cryptocurrency, or gift cards, assume it’s a scam. Legitimate agencies and family members will never make such demands.
- Report Suspicious Activity Immediately – If you or a loved one has been targeted, contact local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov. The sooner a crime is reported, the better the chances of investigating and preventing further fraud.
The recent film Thelma spotlighted the psychological impact of such scams…
Holding Rideshare Companies Accountable
As these scams evolve, rideshare companies must take responsibility for their platforms’ role in facilitating financial fraud. By implementing identity verification measures for package deliveries, tracking suspicious transaction patterns, and cooperating with law enforcement, these companies could significantly reduce the effectiveness and impact of this criminal activity.
Victims and their families should consider pursuing civil action against companies that fail to take reasonable precautions. The legal system has long held financial institutions accountable for facilitating fraud, and the same standard should apply to tech-driven transportation services. Increased oversight and regulation may be necessary to ensure corporate responsibility in preventing criminal exploitation.
Conclusion
The grandparent scam is no longer a simple phone fraud—it has evolved into a highly sophisticated operation using AI, social engineering, and modern technology to manipulate and steal from seniors. While films like Thelma bring awareness to this issue, the real-world consequences are devastating. The financial and emotional toll on victims can be life-altering, often leaving them feeling violated and helpless.
By staying informed, proactive, and engaged with our elderly loved ones, we can help prevent these crimes before they happen. Education is the best defense—when seniors are equipped with the proper knowledge, they become less susceptible to manipulation.
Fraudsters are getting smarter. But we can fight back with vigilance, legal advocacy, and a commitment to protecting our most vulnerable.