I want to tell you about a scam that has been making the rounds across Canada — one that's particularly cruel because it targets the love you have for your family.

It's called the grandparent scam, and it works by making you believe someone you care about is in serious trouble and needs money immediately.

I cover this scam in detail in the video below — it's worth watching if you want to see it walked through step by step.

Watch the full video on my YouTube channel →

The phone rings. When you answer, you hear a young person's voice — upset, maybe crying.

"Grandma? It's me. I'm in trouble."

You might say a name — "Is that you, Tyler?" — and the caller will say yes. Or they'll say their name first if they've done a little research on you through social media.

The story varies, but it usually goes something like this:

• They were in a car accident and someone was hurt
• They were arrested at the border with something they shouldn't have had
• They're in a foreign country and their wallet was stolen

Whatever the story, the message is the same: I need money right now, and please don't tell Mom and Dad — I'm so embarrassed.

Then a second person gets on the line. They claim to be a lawyer, a police officer, or a bail bondsman. They explain the situation in official-sounding language and tell you exactly how much money is needed — often $3,000 to $10,000 or more.

They'll tell you to go to the bank and withdraw cash. Sometimes they'll send someone to your door to pick it up. Sometimes they'll ask you to buy gift cards and read the numbers over the phone.

This scam is effective for a few reasons:

It creates panic. When you think someone you love is in danger, your brain shifts into emergency mode. You want to help immediately. Scammers know this and use it deliberately.

It asks you to keep it secret. "Don't tell anyone — I don't want the family to know." This cuts off the one thing that would stop most people: calling someone else to check.

The voice sounds familiar. We're not as good at recognizing voices over the phone as we think we are, especially when someone is "upset" or "crying." And scammers sometimes use AI tools to mimic a real person's voice using clips from social media.

It moves fast. There's always urgency. "We need the money in the next two hours." This pressure is intentional — it doesn't give you time to think or verify.

Watch for these red flags:

• A call from someone claiming to be a grandchild or family member who sounds distressed
• A request for cash, wire transfer, or gift cards (real lawyers and police do not ask for gift cards)
• Instructions to keep it secret from other family members
• Extreme urgency — "it has to be today"
• A second person who gets on the line claiming to be an official

Step 1: Slow down. Take a breath. Scammers rely on panic. Remind yourself that you have time to verify before doing anything.

Step 2: Hang up and call the person directly. Use the phone number you already have for your grandchild — not any number the caller gives you. Call their cell phone. Call their parents. If they're truly in trouble, you'll reach someone who knows about it.

Step 3: Ask a question only the real person would know. If you stay on the line, ask something specific — the name of their pet, where they went to school, something a stranger wouldn't know. Scammers often stumble here.

Step 4: Tell someone. Call a family member, a friend, or a neighbour. Saying it out loud to another person often breaks the spell of the panic.

Step 5: Never send cash, gift cards, or wire transfers to someone you haven't verified. No legitimate legal process in Canada requires payment by gift card.

First: this is not your fault. These scammers are professionals. They do this every day and they're very good at it.

If you've sent money:

• Call your bank immediately. If the transfer was recent, they may be able to stop or reverse it.
• Report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre.ca. Your report helps protect others.
• Contact your local police. File a report, even if recovery seems unlikely. It creates a record and contributes to investigations.

The best protection against this scam is knowing it exists. If you have older parents, grandparents, or neighbours, please share this with them. A quick conversation now could save someone a great deal of heartache later.

If you've encountered this scam — whether you fell for it or caught it in time — I'd encourage you to share your experience. It helps others recognize it when it happens to them.

This guide covers the essentials, but the video goes through each step in more detail with additional context on how these scams work and what to say in the moment.

Watch the full walkthrough on YouTube for more straightforward, judgment-free safety guides made specifically for seniors and the families helping them.

For more scam alerts and safety tips, browse the Scam Alerts section of this site.