New twist to grandparent scam: mail cash

How it works

You get a phone call from someone claiming to be your grandchild. They say they are in jail, in a car accident, or in some other emergency and need money fast. They ask you to keep it secret and mail cash using UPS, FedEx, or the Post Office. They may give specific instructions to hide the cash in a magazine or divide it into envelopes. The caller uses details from your social media or simply waits for you to say a name, then pretends to be that person.

Red flags to watch for

• Caller says they are in jail or had a car accident and need money urgently
• Voice does not sound quite right, but caller has an excuse (injury, crying)
• You are told not to tell anyone, especially not their parents
• Caller gives very specific instructions on how to mail cash
• Caller knows details about you from social media but claims to be a grandchild
• You are asked to wire or mail cash rather than use a normal payment method

What to do

Do not send cash immediately, no matter how urgent the story sounds. Hang up and call your grandchild directly using a phone number you know is correct, or ask another family member to verify. If you have already mailed cash, contact the shipping company or Post Office right away with your tracking number to try to stop delivery. Report the call to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint and to your local police.