Grandparent Scams

Red Flags

• You get a call from someone who claims to be your grandchild, perhaps your favorite grandchild, but they do not share their name.
• The caller asks for secrecy: “Don’t tell Mom and Dad. Let’s keep this a secret.”
• The caller might cry to hide their voice. They plea that they need help right away – they might be in jail or got in a car accident or ran into trouble on a trip.
• The caller asks you to wire money, send a gift card, or a pre-paid reloadable card.

What to Do

• Call your grandchild at a phone number you already have or contact them through
• email or social media.
• Verify with your grandchild if they actually called you.
• Ask family members if they have heard from your grandchild. Get a second opinion on the situation.

Reporting

• If you have sent money, contact your financial institution immediately.
• If you suspect fraud, file a complaint with the Nevada Attorney General at http://ag.nv.gov/Complaints/File_Complaint or by calling 1-888-434-9989.
• You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling the FTC's Consumer Response Center at (1-877-382-4357) or visit https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#.

The Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, a 501 (c) 3 organization, is established to strengthen communities in our region through leadership and philanthropy. The information provided on this page does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this page are for general informational purposes only.

^{Rev. November 2021}