High severityImpersonation Scam
"Grandma, It's Me" Emergency Scam
Updated April 18, 2026
A caller pretends to be a grandchild in urgent trouble (arrested, in an accident) and asks for immediate, secret payment.
Warning signs
- Caller asks you to guess who's calling rather than identifying themselves.
- Urgent request for bail money, medical bills, or legal fees, often via wire transfer or gift cards.
- Caller insists you keep the situation secret from other family members.
What to do
- Hang up and call the family member directly using a number you already have.
- Establish a family verification code word in advance for genuine emergencies.
- Never send money based on a single unverified phone call.
This scam has circulated for years and specifically targets older adults, sometimes using voice-cloning technology to sound more convincing.
If a request feels urgent and secretive, that combination is itself a strong warning sign.
This write-up is an educational summary of a known scam pattern, not a real-time threat alert, and does not name any specific Augusta-area victim, business, or law enforcement case.