$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
grandchild lost wallet overseas scam
A caller pretending to be your grandchild says they lost their wallet while traveling abroad and need money wired for a hotel, food, and a replacement passport.
“grandparent scam”
↑ 85%Key indicators
Usually targetsGrandparents
Often hitsTech workers and developers
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
The scammer calls posing as a grandchild on a trip, claiming their wallet was stolen and they have no access to money or their phone.
2
They request a wire transfer to a specific name and city to cover immediate expenses and get home.
3
The secrecy request and emotional appeal pressure the grandparent into acting without verifying the story.
What to do first
Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location.
Related terms
lost wallet travel scamoverseas stranded scamtravel emergency grandchild scamGrandparent scamsPhoneRisingGrandparentsOlder adultsElderlyTech workers and developersRetirees and seniorsTravelersUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomlost wallet travel scamoverseas stranded scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Kevin, 38, a grandparents, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate grandparent scams situation while using Phone. The scammer calls posing as a grandchild on a trip, claiming their wallet was stolen and they have no access to money or their phone.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They request a wire transfer to a specific name and city to cover immediate expenses and get home.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The secrecy request and emotional appeal pressure the grandparent into acting without verifying the story.
The outcome
Kevin realized something was wrong when grandchild claims to have lost everything — wallet, phone, passport — yet is calling you. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location. Kevin's experience shows why grandchild claims to have lost everything — wallet, phone, passport — yet is calling you and requests money through western union or moneygram to a foreign city are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Grandchild claims to have lost everything — wallet, phone, passport — yet is calling you
- Requests money through Western Union or MoneyGram to a foreign city
- They ask you not to tell their parents because they do not want to worry them
- 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
- ✓Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location.
- ✓If a family member is genuinely stranded abroad, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy for assistance.
- ✓Never wire money internationally based solely on a phone call.
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 Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that travel-themed grandparent scams peak during summer and holiday travel seasons.
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.
- ✓Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location.
- ✓If a family member is genuinely stranded abroad, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy for assistance.
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 Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that travel-themed grandparent scams peak during summer and holiday travel seasons.
BBB Scam Tracker 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, Older adults, Elderly
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
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 Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reports that travel-themed grandparent scams peak during summer and holiday travel seasons.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about grandchild lost wallet overseas scam
How does the grandchild lost wallet overseas scam work?+
The scammer calls posing as a grandchild on a trip, claiming their wallet was stolen and they have no access to money or their phone. They request a wire transfer to a specific name and city to cover immediate expenses and get home. The secrecy request and emotional appeal pressure the grandparent into acting without verifying the story.
What are the warning signs of grandchild lost wallet overseas scam?+
Grandchild claims to have lost everything — wallet, phone, passport — yet is calling you Requests money through Western Union or MoneyGram to a foreign city They ask you not to tell their parents because they do not want to worry them
What should I do if I encounter grandchild lost wallet overseas scam?+
Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location. If a family member is genuinely stranded abroad, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy for assistance. Never wire money internationally based solely on a phone call.
Who is most at risk for grandchild lost wallet overseas scam?+
This scam primarily targets Grandparents, Older adults, Elderly. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Phone.
Is grandchild lost wallet overseas scam on the rise?+
grandchild lost wallet overseas scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. 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.