Your phone lights up late at night. “Nana, it’s me…” The voice is flawless, because today a scammer can clone a loved one from a short online audio clip and script the perfect crisis. Consumer Advice This guide arms you with 30 red flags that give these “grandkid in trouble” calls away—pressure for secrecy, blocked verification, odd payment demands (gift cards, crypto, cash courier), and subtle tech tells that don’t quite sound human.
You’ll also get quick, do-this-now steps to verify safely and report the incident—timely tools as criminals increasingly use generative AI in impersonation scams that cost older adults billions each year.
Dive in and learn exactly what to watch for in our full checklist of 30 warning signs.
The Shocking Rise of AI Voice Scams
You pick up the phone and hear the panicked voice of your grandchild. They’re in trouble – maybe arrested, maybe in an accident, maybe kidnapped. Your heart races as they beg for money to get out of this crisis. But here’s the terrifying truth: it might not be your grandchild at all.
Canadians reported losing nearly $3 million to grandparent scams in 2024, while the FBI received over 650 reports resulting in over $13 million in losses between 2020 and 2021. Financial institutions are now facing a staggering 2137% increase in deepfake fraud attempts over the last three years, transforming what used to be crude impersonation attempts into sophisticated AI-powered deceptions.
30. Urgent Pressure Without Time to Think
The scammer will say it’s urgent and that you’re the only one who can help. This creates an artificial time crunch that prevents you from thinking clearly. Real emergencies rarely require you to act within minutes without any verification.
Almost all scenarios that cross experts’ desks have a sense of urgency, with scammers insistent that whatever they’re calling about needs to be addressed immediately or the opportunity will be lost. If anyone is pushing you to make a quick payment or decision over the phone, step back and re-evaluate. Genuine family members would understand if you needed a moment to process or verify the situation.
29. Voice Quality That Sounds Too Perfect
A robotic or “flat” tone of voice that sounds too perfect or lacks the natural conversational fluctuations of a human speaker is a telltale sign of AI generation. Real human voices have subtle imperfections, emotional variations, and natural speech patterns that current AI still struggles to perfectly replicate.
One telltale sign of a voice clone or deepfake is that its words may feel ‘off’ compared to its intonation. The emotional content might not match the vocal delivery, creating a disconnect that your brain picks up on subconsciously.
Deep Dive Check Table:
| Red flag | What you’ll hear | Why it hints AI |
|---|---|---|
| Flattened, “too perfect” prosody | Steady pitch and volume with little rise–fall or emphasis | Synthetic speech often shows limited or unnatural emotional variation compared with human prosody. |
| Missing or unnatural breathing | No inhalations at all, or perfectly spaced “breaths” that don’t match the flow | AI voices frequently omit or mis-time breathing; uniform or misplaced breaths are a common tell. |
| Machine-like pacing | Even syllable timing; few spontaneous pauses or hesitations | Prosody/rhythm inconsistencies are typical artifacts detectors use to flag synthetic speech. |
| “Crisp but wrong” consonants | Odd-sounding s, sh, f (fricatives feel smeared or over-clean) | Acoustic artifacts in fricatives are a known giveaway of generated audio. |
| Emotion–content mismatch | The words say “I’m scared,” but the tone stays flat—or the intonation doesn’t fit the story | Emotion control remains challenging; “emotion mismatch” is a documented issue in TTS. |
| Unnatural cleanliness + odd glitches | Studio-clean background with occasional digital warbles/clicks | Attackers (and TTS tools) often produce over-clean audio; minor artifacts and mispronunciations can leak through. |
28. Demands for Secrecy and Isolation
The scammer might tell you it’s important to keep it secret. They don’t want you talking to other family members and friends and realizing it’s a scam. This isolation tactic is designed to prevent you from getting a second opinion or verification.
Real family members facing genuine emergencies would typically want you to contact other relatives for support or help. They wouldn’t insist on absolute secrecy unless there were very specific, logical reasons that they could clearly explain.
27. Requests for Untraceable Payment Methods
They often insist that you can only pay in ways that make it tough to get your money back – by wiring money through a company like Western Union or MoneyGram, sending cryptocurrency, using a payment app, or by putting money on a gift card. Legitimate emergencies rarely require these specific payment methods.
You’re told to pay a ransom via cryptocurrency or gift cards. Scammers prefer to use difficult-to-trace payment methods so that police and victims won’t be able to recover funds or track the criminals. Banks, lawyers, and bail bondsmen don’t typically accept gift cards as payment.
26. Background Audio That Doesn’t Match the Story
Listen carefully to what you hear in the background. If your “grandchild” claims to be in jail but you hear traffic sounds, or says they’re at a hospital but there’s no medical equipment beeping, these inconsistencies are red flags.
Scammers often use pre-recorded loops or generate background sounds that don’t perfectly match their fabricated scenarios. The acoustic environment should align with where they claim to be.
25. Unusual Speech Patterns or Lost Personal Details
Does the voice sound like your grandchild but they’re using words or phrases they’ve never used before? Are they speaking in a different rhythm or using formal language when they’re normally casual?
Ask the caller questions about shared memories or other details that only the real person would know to determine if they are who they claim to be. Real family members should be able to recall specific details about recent conversations, inside jokes, or family events.
24. Technical Glitches in Voice Quality
Fraudsters need just three seconds of audio to “clone” a voice and use it to scam you, but the technology isn’t perfect. Listen for subtle digital artifacts, slight delays between words, or moments where the voice seems to “cut out” unnaturally.
Sometimes you might notice that certain sounds – like breathing, throat clearing, or emotional sounds like crying – sound artificial or are completely missing from what should be an emotional conversation.
23. Phone Number Doesn’t Match Known Contact
Sometimes these callers “spoof” the caller ID to make an incoming call appear to be coming from a trusted source. However, scammers often use numbers that don’t match your grandchild’s known phone number.
Even if the caller ID shows a familiar name, the actual number might be different from what you have saved in your contacts. Always double-check the number against your stored contacts before assuming the call is legitimate.
22. Inability to Answer Simple Personal Questions
When you ask basic questions about recent family events, their job, their friends’ names, or what they had for dinner last week, do they deflect or give vague answers? Real family members should easily recall personal details.
Scammers often try to redirect the conversation back to the “emergency” when pressed for personal information. They might say things like “There’s no time for that now” or “I can’t think about that right now” to avoid answering.
Deep dive Table:
| Red flag | What you’ll notice | Quick test |
|---|---|---|
| Deflects basic personal questions | Vague answers or changes the subject back to the “emergency” (“there’s no time”) | Ask 1–2 specifics only the real person would know (e.g., last family event or pet’s name). If they dodge or can’t answer, stop. |
| Won’t let you call back | Insists you stay on the line; claims low battery or “can’t talk long” | Hang up and call the person (or a close relative) on a number you already trust. If they resist this, it’s a red flag. |
| Pushes secrecy to avoid questions | Tells you not to tell anyone, discourages checking details with family | Ignore secrecy demands and verify with another family member before doing anything. |
| Can’t pass the family password | Hesitates or fails when asked for your pre-agreed code/phrase | Use (or set up) a family passphrase; no passphrase, no help. |
21. Story Details That Don’t Add Up
The caller will claim to have been caught in hot water, which can be anything: a kidnapping, an issue with the police, a car accident, or getting stuck overseas with no money. However, the specific details often contain logical inconsistencies.
For example, if they claim to be arrested but are somehow able to make multiple phone calls, or if they say they’re in a car accident but sound completely uninjured, these contradictions should raise immediate suspicion.
20. Emotional Manipulation Beyond Normal Panic
The scammers will play with your emotions. They’re counting on you to act quickly to help your family or friend. And they’re counting on you to pay without stopping to check out whether there’s really an emergency.
While genuine emergencies do cause panic, scammers often escalate emotional manipulation to extreme levels, using guilt, fear, and your love for your family as weapons against your better judgment.
19. Third-Party “Officials” Who Take Over the Call
Scammers often start the call by using the cloned voice before passing the phone over to another person who pretends to be a kidnapper, attorney, or law enforcement officer. This handoff tactic is designed to add credibility to the scam.
Real law enforcement officers would have proper identification, badge numbers, and would follow established procedures. They wouldn’t rely on family members to facilitate communication about legal matters through unverified phone calls.
18. No Verification Through Official Channels
Legitimate emergencies involving law enforcement, hospitals, or legal issues would have official channels you could contact independently. If the caller refuses to provide official case numbers, badge numbers, or institutional contact information, this is suspicious.
Real authorities would encourage you to verify their identity through official channels rather than discouraging independent verification of their claims.
17. Inconsistent Emotional Responses
Does the emotional tone match the severity of the claimed situation? Sometimes AI-generated voices maintain too steady a tone for genuine panic, or conversely, the emotional responses seem over-the-top or artificial.
Real people in crisis situations have variable emotional responses – moments of clarity mixed with panic, or gradual escalation of distress rather than immediate maximum intensity.
16. Unknown Details About Current Location
If your grandchild claims to be somewhere specific but can’t provide basic details about their location – like the name of the police station, hospital, or even the city they’re in – this should raise questions.
Someone actually experiencing an emergency would typically be aware of key details about where they are and could provide specifics that you could verify independently.
15. Sophisticated Knowledge Combined with Basic Errors
Scammers might have sophisticated information about your family gathered from social media, but they often make basic errors about recent events or current family situations that your real grandchild would know.
Keith Elliott, a certified fraud examiner and private investigator, says it’s remarkably easy because people unwittingly supply fraudsters with vast amounts of personal information. Personal video posts, even those years old, are being harvested by scammers.
14. Refusal to Use Video Calls
In today’s world, most young people are comfortable with video calls. If your grandchild refuses to switch to a video call or makes excuses about why they can’t show their face, this should be suspicious.
Ask someone on video to wave or move their arms in a specific manner to confirm they are real, not pre-recorded. Real people can easily comply with simple movement requests during video calls.
13. Timing That Doesn’t Match Their Normal Schedule
Consider whether the timing of the call makes sense. Is your grandchild calling at a time when they should be at work, in school, or sleeping? Do they typically contact you directly for help, or would they normally call their parents first?
Scammers often don’t consider the target’s normal routines and family communication patterns when timing their calls.
12. Pressure to Avoid Calling Parents or Other Family
The scammer may ask the grandparent “please don’t let mom and dad know,” and may hand the phone over to someone posing as a lawyer seeking immediate payment. This prevents family communication that would quickly expose the scam.
In genuine emergencies, most people would want their immediate family (parents) to be informed and involved. Requests to bypass normal family communication channels are major red flags.
11. Specific Dollar Amounts That Seem Arbitrary
Scammers often request specific amounts like $2,847 or $5,234 rather than round numbers. These seemingly precise amounts are designed to make the request seem more legitimate and urgent.
However, real emergency expenses like bail, medical bills, or repair costs would typically have logical explanations for their specific amounts, and the person could explain why that exact amount is needed.
10. No Follow-Up Communication Pattern
After the initial crisis call, legitimate emergencies usually involve ongoing communication. Scammers typically disappear after receiving payment or move on to new tactics if unsuccessful.
Real family members would likely stay in touch, provide updates, express gratitude, or follow up about their situation even after the immediate crisis is resolved.
9. Voice Matches but Mannerisms Don’t
While AI can replicate voice patterns, it struggles with individual speech mannerisms. Does your grandchild usually use specific slang, pause patterns, or vocal habits that seem missing from this call?
Pay attention to subtle speech characteristics like how they typically say your name, their laugh, or their usual way of asking for help. These personal vocal signatures are harder for AI to replicate perfectly.
8. Technology References That Don’t Fit
Young people today are typically tech-savvy and would likely use multiple communication channels. If your grandchild claims their phone is broken but somehow managed to call you, or if they seem unfamiliar with basic technology they normally use, this could indicate a scam.
Real emergencies in the digital age often leave digital trails – text messages, social media posts, or other communications that you could verify independently.
7. Geographic Details That Don’t Align
If the caller claims to be in a location but lacks knowledge of basic local details – like major landmarks, time zones, or current local events – this suggests the call might not be originating from where they claim.
Scammers can use information about a person traveling overseas to contact parents or grandparents impersonating the traveler. Using manipulated audio or video, they claim their loved one is in trouble with law enforcement overseas. Family members are more likely to be convinced because it contains specific details about their loved ones’ itinerary.
6. Unusual Financial Knowledge or Lack Thereof
Does your grandchild suddenly know a lot about wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or other financial instruments they’ve never mentioned before? Conversely, do they seem unfamiliar with how they normally handle money?
Young people today often have preferred payment methods like Venmo, PayPal, or banking apps. If they’re suddenly requesting old-fashioned wire transfers without explanation, this should raise questions.
5. No Proof of the Claimed Situation
In legitimate emergencies, there are usually ways to provide proof – police report numbers, hospital names, lawyer contact information, or other verifiable details. Scammers often refuse to provide this type of concrete evidence.
Real emergencies leave paper trails and involve institutions that can be contacted independently for verification.
4. Voice Clarity That’s Too Good for the Situation
If your grandchild claims to be in a chaotic environment (police station, hospital, accident scene) but their voice sounds perfectly clear without appropriate background noise, this could indicate a controlled recording environment.
Emergency situations typically involve ambient noise, echo, or other audio characteristics that match the claimed location.
3. Repetitive Phrases or Scripted Language
Listen for repetitive phrases or language that sounds scripted rather than natural. Scammers often use prepared scripts, while genuine emergency calls would have more natural, varied speech patterns.
Real people in crisis speak spontaneously and might repeat themselves naturally, but scripted repetition has a different quality that trained listeners can detect.
2. Missing Cultural or Family References
Your real grandchild would naturally reference family situations, cultural touchstones, or shared experiences that are specific to your family. Scammers working from social media information might miss these subtle cultural markers.
Pay attention to whether they reference family traditions, nicknames, inside jokes, or cultural elements that are part of your normal communication patterns.
1. Technological Sophistication vs. Basic Errors
This wouldn’t have been possible six months ago, referring to sophisticated AI voice cloning capabilities. However, despite technological advancement, scammers often make basic errors in their stories or logistics.
As deepfake generation technology improves and leaves ever-fewer telltale signs that humans can rely on, computational methods for detection are becoming the norm. But technological solutions are no silver bullet for the problem of detecting AI-generated voices. The combination of high-tech voice cloning with low-tech scamming errors creates detectable inconsistencies.
The key to protecting yourself lies in verification through independent channels. Hang up and call them directly from a number they’ll recognize. Don’t redial the number that just called you, but verify you have the right number with another person or go to their contact information and phone them from there. Remember, having a secret code word known only to family members to verify identity before making any major financial decisions can be one of your most powerful defenses against these increasingly sophisticated scams. Trust your instincts – if something feels off about the call, it probably is.