A grandparent hears a grandchild in trouble, asking for money. The voice sounds right. A family code word gives everyone a calm way to check.

Published October 2026 · Last reviewed: October 18, 2026

Inexpensive AI tools can now imitate a person’s voice from a short recording taken from social media or a voicemail greeting. The FBI has advised families to agree on a secret word or phrase to verify identity. It takes five minutes and protects everyone in the family, at any age.

What to know

These calls usually include the three warning signs: a rush (“I need bail money now”), a secret (“Please don’t tell Mom”), and an unusual way to pay (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or a courier who comes to the house).

What families can do

1. Choose a word or short phrase that is unusual, easy to remember, and not posted anywhere online.
2. Share it in person with the immediate family, including grandparents and older children.
3. Agree on the rule: anyone calling with an emergency request for money or help should know the code word. No code word, no action.
4. Ask for the word; do not say it first.
5. Hang up and call back on the number you already have for that person.
6. Consider making social media accounts private and limiting public voice recordings.

Talk about it

• “If someone called sounding like me and asked for money, how would you check?”
• “Who should know our code word, and who should not?”

Present the code word to older relatives as a family rule, not a test of their judgment. These scams are designed to overwhelm anyone.

When to get more help

If money was sent, call your bank right away, then report the call at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The Get Help page lists more first steps.

Sources and further reading

• FBI IC3: Criminals Use Generative AI to Facilitate Financial Fraud (December 2024)
• FTC: Family Emergency Scams