An emergency scam is when someone pretends that a family member, friend, or person you care about urgently needs money. It relies on panic and your natural instinct to help, so you act before you've had time to check the story.
How it happens
You receive a call, text, or message saying a relative has been arrested, injured, robbed, stranded, or hospitalised. The person contacting you may claim to be the relative themselves, or a police officer, lawyer, doctor, or friend acting on their behalf. They often ask you not to tell anyone else, saying it would make the situation worse.
Western Union describes this as an emergency or grandparent scam: someone impersonates a person you care about, or a contact of theirs, and creates an urgent plea for help and money.
Warning signs
The request is urgent, emotional, and asked to be kept secret. Be cautious if the person avoids answering direct questions, calls from an unknown number, asks for an unusual payment method, or insists you don't contact anyone else to check.
How to protect yourself
- Pause before doing anything.
- Contact the person through a number you already know, not one given to you in the message or call.
- Speak to another family member or trusted person before sending any money.
- Ask a question only the real person would know the answer to.
If you think you've already sent money
- Stop sending any further money.
- Save phone numbers, messages, payment details, and any names used.
- Report it to your bank or payment provider, and to the relevant authority.
- Contact us, if an Xe transfer was involved.