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The Tech Grandkid · thetechgrandkid.com/scam-alerts/ai-voice-clone-grandkid-call/

Scam alert · Phone call

A call sounds just like your grandkid, and they need money fast

Posted October 14, 2026. Based only on the FTC and FBI warnings linked below.

What it looks like

  • The phone rings. It sounds exactly like your grandson or granddaughter. They're scared.
  • They say they wrecked the car, got arrested or are hurt, and they need money right now.
  • They want you to wire money, send cryptocurrency or buy gift cards and read them the numbers.

Why it works

The FTC says a scammer only needs a short clip of someone's voice, which they can get from videos posted online, and a voice-copying program. The FBI warned in December 2024 that criminals use AI to copy a loved one's voice and ask for money in a fake emergency.

What to do

  • Don't trust the voice. Hang up.
  • Call your family member yourself at a number you know is theirs. If you can't reach them, call another family member or one of their friends.
  • Pick a family secret word now. The FBI says to agree on a secret word or phrase. A real grandkid will know it. A scammer won't.
  • Never pay with gift cards, wire transfers or crypto to someone who called you. Those are signs of a scam.
  • Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money, also report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.

Text this to someone you love

Heads up: scammers can copy a grandkid's voice with AI and call asking for money. If you get a call like that, hang up and call me at my real number. Let's pick a family secret word so we always know it's really us.

Sources