$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake family GPS tracker app scam
Scammers sell fake family GPS tracking apps or devices that either do not work, send location data to the scammer, or subscribe families to expensive recurring charges.
“grandparent scam”
↑ 85%Key indicators
Usually targetsParents
Often hitsDrivers and gig workers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create GPS tracking apps marketed to parents as family safety tools, advertising them through social media targeted ads.
2
The app appears to work during a free trial but requires a premium subscription, often with hidden auto-renewal at high rates.
3
The tracking features either stop working after payment, provide inaccurate data, or worse, the app sends the family's location data to the scammer's servers.
What to do first
Use established family tracking apps from known developers like Life360, Apple Find My, or Google Family Link.
Related terms
fake family locator appGPS tracker subscription scamfamily safety app fraudParent and family scamsAppRisingParentsFamiliesDrivers and gig workersParents and familiesUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadafake family locator appGPS tracker subscription scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Brian, 38, a parents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate parent and family scams situation while using App. Scammers create GPS tracking apps marketed to parents as family safety tools, advertising them through social media targeted ads.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The app appears to work during a free trial but requires a premium subscription, often with hidden auto-renewal at high rates.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The tracking features either stop working after payment, provide inaccurate data, or worse, the app sends the family's location data to the scammer's servers.
The outcome
Brian realized something was wrong when app charges a premium subscription but location tracking is inaccurate or stops working after the trial period. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Use established family tracking apps from known developers like Life360, Apple Find My, or Google Family Link. Brian's experience shows why app charges a premium subscription but location tracking is inaccurate or stops working after the trial period and app requests excessive permissions including access to contacts, photos, and messages beyond location tracking are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- App charges a premium subscription but location tracking is inaccurate or stops working after the trial period
- App requests excessive permissions including access to contacts, photos, and messages beyond location tracking
- Developer has no verifiable company information and the app has mostly fake-looking five-star reviews
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Use established family tracking apps from known developers like Life360, Apple Find My, or Google Family Link.
- ✓Read app reviews carefully and check the developer's history before subscribing.
- ✓Report fraudulent tracking apps to the app store and request a refund for unauthorized subscription charges.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Sensor Tower data showed that dozens of family GPS tracking apps with minimal functionality generated over 15 million USD in subscription revenue in 2023 through deceptive subscription practices.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Use established family tracking apps from known developers like Life360, Apple Find My, or Google Family Link.
- ✓Read app reviews carefully and check the developer's history before subscribing.
- ✓Report fraudulent tracking apps to the app store and request a refund for unauthorized subscription charges.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Sensor Tower data showed that dozens of family GPS tracking apps with minimal functionality generated over 15 million USD in subscription revenue in 2023 through deceptive subscription practices.
Sensor Tower App Intelligence 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Parents, Families
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada
Primary channel
App — Parent and family scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Parents are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Sensor Tower data showed that dozens of family GPS tracking apps with minimal functionality generated over 15 million USD in subscription revenue in 2023 through deceptive subscription practices.
Source notes
- Sensor Tower App Intelligence 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake family gps tracker app scam
How does the fake family gps tracker app scam work?+
Scammers create GPS tracking apps marketed to parents as family safety tools, advertising them through social media targeted ads. The app appears to work during a free trial but requires a premium subscription, often with hidden auto-renewal at high rates. The tracking features either stop working after payment, provide inaccurate data, or worse, the app sends the family's location data to the scammer's servers.
What are the warning signs of fake family gps tracker app scam?+
App charges a premium subscription but location tracking is inaccurate or stops working after the trial period App requests excessive permissions including access to contacts, photos, and messages beyond location tracking Developer has no verifiable company information and the app has mostly fake-looking five-star reviews
What should I do if I encounter fake family gps tracker app scam?+
Use established family tracking apps from known developers like Life360, Apple Find My, or Google Family Link. Read app reviews carefully and check the developer's history before subscribing. Report fraudulent tracking apps to the app store and request a refund for unauthorized subscription charges.
Who is most at risk for fake family gps tracker app scam?+
This scam primarily targets Parents, Families. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and typically appears on App.
Is fake family gps tracker app scam on the rise?+
fake family GPS tracker app scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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