AARP Pennsylvania is alerting older adults and their families to a growing and dangerous threat: The return of the Grandparent Scam, now supercharged by artificial intelligence and voice-cloning technology.

The Grandparent Scam typically begins with an urgent phone call from an imposter claiming to be your grandchild – or someone speaking on their behalf. The caller insists they’ve been in a car accident or jailed and need immediate financial help. They may plead for secrecy: “Please don’t tell Mom or Dad.” But now, scammers are upping the stakes.

“Today’s criminals are using artificial intelligence to clone voices, making these calls sound astonishingly real,” said Volunteer and Chair of the Consumer Issues Task Force Mary Bach. “They know how to exploit your emotions – and they’re getting better at it.”

Scammers often use personal information found on social media or bought on the dark web to build believable stories. They may spoof caller ID to make the call appear legitimate and demand wire transfers, gift cards – or increasingly, cash – picked up directly from your home by a so-called “courier.”

Federal authorities have taken notice. The U.S. Department of Justice recently charged 25 individuals connected to a Grandparent Scam ring that defrauded people out of more than $21 million across 40 states.

To stay safe, AARP Pennsylvania urges consumers to:

• Hang up immediately if you receive an urgent call from someone claiming to be a relative in trouble.

• Verify the story by calling your grandchild or other family members directly using a known number.

• Never share personal or financial information with someone you don’t know – even if they sound like family.

• Be wary of payment demands involving gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or in-person cash pickups.

• Set a family code word to confirm identities in real emergencies.

“Scammers count on emotion to override logic,” said Bach. “If you get a call that tugs at your heartstrings, pause, verify, and think before you act.”

Be a fraud fighter – if you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Pennsylvania Fraud Resource Page at aarp.org/pafraud.

Connect with AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook: @AARPPA, X: @AARPPA, Instagram: @AARPPennsylvania, & YouTube: @TheAARPPA