10 minutes · Parents, grandparents, and anyone who answers the family phone

The Family Kit

Put this on the fridge. Go over it once with everyone who answers a phone.

1. Our family safe word

Do not write the word itself on this sheet or anywhere that leaves the house. Write a hint only you would get ("the camping trip word").

Pick one that is easy to remember and not findable online (no pet or street names). Two odd words work well ("purple canoe").

How it works: if someone calls asking for money or help, they must say the safe word without being asked. Never say it first. Never hint. If they can't say it, hang up.

2. The call to watch for

"Grandma, it's me. I've been in an accident. I'm in jail. Please don't tell Mom." Then a "lawyer" or "officer" gets on the line.

The tells:

• It is urgent. You must act right now.
• It is secret. Don't tell anyone.
• They want gift cards, crypto, a wire, cash, or a courier to pick up money at your door.

Real police, courts, and hospitals never ask for any of those over the phone. The voice can sound exactly like your grandchild.

3. What to do

Hang up. Call back on the number you already have for that person, or call another family member. Do not use a number the caller gives you.

4. If you already paid: the first hour

1. Call your bank's fraud line using the number on the back of your card. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
2. Gift cards: call the number on the back of the card and ask them to freeze it. Keep the card and receipt.
3. Report it: reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov (US).
4. Change passwords if you gave out any codes or logins.
5. Ignore anyone offering to "recover" your money for a fee. That is a second scam.

You are not foolish. These calls fool careful people.

Why this works

Why a safe word. AI tools can copy a voice from a short clip, like a birthday video posted online. You can no longer trust a voice alone. A safe word is something a copied voice does not know. It only works if the caller has to produce it, which is why you never say it first.

Why hanging up works. Every one of these scams depends on keeping you on the line. Pressure stops you from thinking. Calling the real person back takes one minute and ends almost every scam on the spot. Caller ID can be faked, so a familiar name on the screen proves nothing.

Why gift cards, crypto, and couriers. Scammers pick payment methods that are fast and hard to undo. No legitimate bail, fine, or hospital bill is paid that way. If someone is coming to your house to collect cash, do not open the door. Call 911 if you feel unsafe.

Why speed matters if you paid. Banks can sometimes stop a wire or card payment if you call within hours. After a few days, the money is usually gone. Report it even if you think it's too late. Reports help police connect cases and sometimes recover funds.

Why "recovery" offers are a trap. People who have been scammed get put on lists. A few weeks later, someone calls claiming to be a lawyer, a government agency, or a recovery firm that can get the money back for a fee. Government agencies like the FTC and FBI do not charge to help you.

Talk about it. The best protection is a family where nobody is embarrassed to say "I got a weird call." Share this sheet with grandparents, teenagers, and anyone who babysits.