You get a call from a panicked grandchild or other family member. They say they're in a time-sensitive crisis—hospitalized after a car accident or jailed for example—and beg for immediate financial help.

They may hand the phone over to someone they say is a police officer, lawyer or court official who provides detailed instructions for sending money via gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or cash.

This is the beginning of the grandparent scam, and it’s more sophisticated than ever. Criminals now have generative artificial intelligence tools to make the fake situation seem all-the-more real. But there is no emergency: It’s a setup to steal your money.

If you receive a call like this, verify the situation by contacting your loved one directly using a number you know is theirs. Above all, if you receive an unexpected communication that puts you into a state of high emotion and involves urgency, let that be your signal to take an “active pause.” Give yourself time to reflect on what you might know about the situation or to reach out to someone for guidance. AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM is mounting an educational campaign to “Pause. Reflect. Protect.”

Learn how to spot and avoid scams with AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM. Suspect a scam? Call our free helpline at 877-908-3360 and talk to one of our fraud specialists about what to do next.

Need a scam prevention speaker for your group? Send an email to me@aarp.org.