Spot the Scam: Pressure, Secrecy, Strange Payment

The story: A late-night call

Grace gets a late-night call from a voice that sounds like a grandson asking for gift cards, hangs up and calls the grandson back on a known number.

1. Narrator: Late one night, Grace’s phone rings. The voice sounds just like Grace’s grandson, Jamie.
2. Narrator: “Grandma, I’m in trouble. I need $3,000 right now. Please don’t tell Mom.”
3. Narrator: Then: “Buy gift cards and read me the numbers.” That’s pressure, secrecy and a strange way to pay.
4. Grace: Something feels wrong. I’ll hang up and call Jamie on the number I know.
5. Narrator: Jamie is safe at home. The voice was a fake, made by a computer from a short online clip.
6. Narrator: Pressure, secrecy, strange payment. If you see even one, stop. Hang up. Call back on a number you trust.

What you’ll learn

1. Who scammers pretend to be

   Scammers pretend to be the government, your bank, tech support or family. Now they can even copy a loved one’s voice from a short clip online. A familiar voice is not proof.

2. Strange ways to pay

   Real agencies and banks don’t ask for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or cash picked up at your door. If someone asks you to pay that way, it’s a scam.

3. “Don’t tell anyone” is a red flag

   Scammers want you rushed and alone. “Act now” and “don’t tell anyone” are tricks to stop you from checking. Real helpers give you time and want you to ask others.

4. Hang up, call back, use a code word

   Hang up and call the number on your card, statement or a trusted list. Agree on a family code word that a fake voice wouldn’t know. Checking is never rude.

Key words

impostor scam

someone pretending to be a person or group you trust

voice cloning

a fake copy of someone’s voice, made by a computer

red flag

a warning sign

Common questions

What if I already sent money?

You are not to blame. Scammers are skilled. Call your bank or card company right away, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Acting fast sometimes gets money back.

Can a computer really copy a voice?

Yes. A few seconds of someone talking online can be enough. That’s why a call-back or a code word works better than trusting a voice.

Remember this

Pressure, secrecy, strange payment: stop, hang up, call back.

Try it: Set up your scam shields

1. Pick a family code word and share it in person.
2. Write the real phone numbers for your bank, Social Security and Medicare on your money map.
3. Print a wallet card with four questions: Did they contact me first? Are they rushing me? Do they want gift cards, a wire, crypto or cash? Did they tell me not to tell anyone?
4. Practice those four questions on one message you get this week.

The whole mission; no account or app needed.

Live facts

Numbers that change over time, with when they were last checked and where they come from.

• Report a scam

  Source: FTC.gov (ReportFraud)(opens in a new tab)

• The most common scams right now

  Source: FTC.gov (Consumer Sentinel)(opens in a new tab)