$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
fake police follow-up call scam
After a grandparent scam attempt — whether successful or not — a second caller poses as a police officer investigating the case, extracting more money or personal information.
“grandparent scam”
↑ 85%Key indicators
Usually targetsGrandparents
Often hitsRetirees and seniors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$7.2K
median reported loss
Typical range$900 – $54K
Recovery rate~5%
Annual reports10,000
Scam breakdown
1
After a grandparent scam — successful or not — a confederate calls posing as law enforcement investigating the case.
2
The fake officer asks for bank details to trace the scam, or requests payment for investigation costs.
3
Victims who already lost money are especially vulnerable to this follow-up because they are hoping for recovery.
What to do first
Real police never call to request money or banking information — hang up if asked.
Related terms
police callback scamfollow-up investigation scamrecovery room grandparent scamGrandparent scamsPhoneRisingGrandparentsSeniorsElderlyRetirees and seniorsParents and familiesImmigrants and visa holdersUnited StatesCanadapolice callback scamfollow-up investigation scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Ashley, 38, a grandparents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate grandparent scams situation while using Phone. After a grandparent scam — successful or not — a confederate calls posing as law enforcement investigating the case.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The fake officer asks for bank details to trace the scam, or requests payment for investigation costs.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims who already lost money are especially vulnerable to this follow-up because they are hoping for recovery.
The outcome
Ashley realized something was wrong when a police officer calls about a scam you reported or experienced but asks for money or personal details. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Real police never call to request money or banking information — hang up if asked. Ashley's experience shows why a police officer calls about a scam you reported or experienced but asks for money or personal details and they claim to need payment information to track the scammers or recover your funds are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A police officer calls about a scam you reported or experienced but asks for money or personal details
- They claim to need payment information to track the scammers or recover your funds
- The officer is unable to provide a badge number or precinct phone number for verification
- 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
- ✓Real police never call to request money or banking information — hang up if asked.
- ✓Call your local police department's non-emergency number directly to verify any investigation.
- ✓Report the follow-up call to the FTC and the original case detective if one was assigned.
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.
- ✓Save the full chat or call log before blocking the sender so the reporting path still has the original context.
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.
- The FTC and AARP have documented the double-dip tactic where scam victims are re-targeted by the same or affiliated criminal groups posing as recovery agents or police.
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.
- ✓Tell close contacts if a phone or text scam used your identity, so scammers cannot reuse the same story against people around you.
- ✓Real police never call to request money or banking information — hang up if asked.
- ✓Call your local police department's non-emergency number directly to verify any investigation.
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.
The FTC and AARP have documented the double-dip tactic where scam victims are re-targeted by the same or affiliated criminal groups posing as recovery agents or police.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
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
Grandparents, Seniors, Elderly
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Phone — Grandparent scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Grandparents 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
- The FTC and AARP have documented the double-dip tactic where scam victims are re-targeted by the same or affiliated criminal groups posing as recovery agents or police.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about fake police follow-up call scam
How does the fake police follow-up call scam work?+
After a grandparent scam — successful or not — a confederate calls posing as law enforcement investigating the case. The fake officer asks for bank details to trace the scam, or requests payment for investigation costs. Victims who already lost money are especially vulnerable to this follow-up because they are hoping for recovery.
What are the warning signs of fake police follow-up call scam?+
A police officer calls about a scam you reported or experienced but asks for money or personal details They claim to need payment information to track the scammers or recover your funds The officer is unable to provide a badge number or precinct phone number for verification
What should I do if I encounter fake police follow-up call scam?+
Real police never call to request money or banking information — hang up if asked. Call your local police department's non-emergency number directly to verify any investigation. Report the follow-up call to the FTC and the original case detective if one was assigned.
Who is most at risk for fake police follow-up call scam?+
This scam primarily targets Grandparents, Seniors, Elderly. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Phone.
Is fake police follow-up call scam on the rise?+
fake police follow-up call scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, 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.