Grandma, I'm in Jail — San Diego Seniors Share How Scammers Tried to Steal Their Money
At a San Ysidro senior center, grandparents revealed how scammers called pretending to be grandchildren in jail, at the airport, or kidnapped in Mexico.
January 20, 2025 · 5 min read
What happened?
At a community meeting in San Ysidro, a group of grandmothers compared notes on the calls they had received. Every single one had a version of the same story.
The voice on the line was crying. It was hard to understand. It sounded like their grandchild. The caller said they had been in an accident, arrested crossing the border, or kidnapped and needed ransom money right now.
Some of the women almost sent thousands. A few did. One shared that she recognized the scam only because she had heard about it on the news the week before.
Who is being targeted?
Grandparents in Southern California and border communities.
Anyone whose grandchild might reasonably travel abroad.
How the scam works
- 1Caller claims to be a grandchild in an emergency abroad.
- 2A second voice takes over as an attorney or officer.
- 3You are told not to tell anyone and to send money now.
- 4Payment is demanded via wire, gift cards, or courier.
Warning signs
⚠ Caller cannot say their own name clearly
⚠ Story involves travel or crossing a border
⚠ Demand for ransom or bail in cash
⚠ Insistence on secrecy
What you should do
- ✓Hang up and call your grandchild directly.
- ✓Verify with another family member.
- ✓Establish a family safe word right now.
- ✓Call SAM whenever a call feels off.
Already responded?
If you already interacted with the scammer, act quickly — the sooner you move, the more you can protect.
- !Contact your bank and any payment services immediately.
- !File a report with the FBI at ic3.gov.
- !Reach out to your local Adult Protective Services office.
Ask SAM
Still not sure?
Call or message SAM before taking any action. It's free, private, and available 24/7.
