Grandparent scam, now with AI-cloned voices
A caller claims to be your grandchild in jail and needs bail money today. Some calls now use a cloned copy of the real grandchild's voice.
How it works
The call starts with a panicked young voice: "Grandma, I have been arrested, please do not tell Mom." The phone is then passed to a fake police officer or lawyer who demands cash, sometimes sending a courier to collect it. Scammers can now clone a grandchild's voice from short clips posted on social media, which makes the call sound real. Canadians lost almost 3 million dollars to this scam in 2024, and DRPS has charged people in Durham investigations.
What to do
- Hang up and call your grandchild or their parents back on their usual number.
- Agree on a family code word now, before any call like this happens.
- Never hand cash or gift cards to a courier. Police and courts never collect bail this way.
Sources
If this has already happened to you, our scam recovery visit can lock down your accounts and devices. And if you are just not sure whether something is a scam, asking us is always free.