Scammers are “fishing” with cloned voices—one safe word can keep your family out of the net.
Grandma, I Need $500! — Outsmarting AI Voice Scams
Hey friend—picture this.
Your phone buzzes. Mom’s panicked.
“Your son just called—he’s in trouble. He needs $500 right now.”
She swears it was his voice. Same tone, same little pause he makes when he’s nervous.
But here’s the gut-punch: it wasn’t him.
It was AI. And these scams are exploding in 2025.
A Trick I Learned From My Mom
Here’s where it gets personal. Years ago, my mom gave me this idea.
We had a family safe word. If someone came to pick me up that I didn’t know, they had to use the safe word. That was my signal: they were truly sent by my parents.
Want to know the word? Not a chance. Mom knows, I know, and that’s the point.
Funny thing—I don’t think I ever actually had to use it. But here’s the kicker: I still remember that word to this day. It stuck.
And that old-school, low-tech trick from the ‘80s? It’s exactly what we need today.
Why This Matters for Us Gen Xers
Scammers have gotten smart. They don’t just send sketchy emails anymore. They use AI voice cloning to mimic your kids—or your parents. The FTC says these scams have jumped 50% this year, and losses often top $10,000 per family.
As the sandwich generation, we’re right in the crosshairs:
Our parents pick up the phone and trust the voice they hear.
Our kids may not think twice about answering a “weird” call.
And we’re left cleaning up the mess.
The Simple Fix: Create a Family Safe Word
Think of it like a secret handshake—silly, memorable, and just for you.
How to set one up:
Pick a word from an inside joke, old family trip, or something random like BlueberryPie.
Share it privately—never in a text or email.
Practice it. If someone calls in an “emergency,” the safe word is required. No word, no money.
That one word could save your family thousands.
Other Quick Wins
Hang up, call back. If you get a scary call, hang up and call the real number you know.
Turn on bank alerts. Get a ping any time money moves.
Talk about scams at dinner. Make it normal. The more we talk, the less power scammers have.
Bring It Home
The truth is, my mom’s safe word idea from decades ago is still protecting families today. One conversation, one silly little word—that’s all it takes.
👉 Don’t tell me your safe word—but think about it. Do your parents and kids know what it is? Have you practiced using it? Maybe this week is the time to make it a family ritual.
Until next time,
Joe — Your Gen X Tech Adviser
Resources Worth Sharing
⚡ Next week, I’ll tackle another tech trap that Gen Xers and our families face every day. (Hint: it’s something simple most of us are still getting wrong.)