Take a breath. I'm right here.
Someone called and said something scary. Before you do anything — let's go through this together. I'll take you one step at a time.
I'm okay — take me backFirst — hang up the phone.
I know it felt urgent. But the best thing you can do right now is hang up. Scammers are trained to keep you on the line — because once you hang up, you'll think clearly. Hanging up is not rude. It is the smartest thing you can do.
Good. Now let's find out if they're really okay.
Go to your contacts and call that person yourself — at the number you already have saved for them. Not the number that just called you. If they're truly okay, they'll pick up. Take your time.
That's okay. Leave them a message.
Send a text too, then wait. While you're waiting — please don't send any money or call the number that called you. Someone who truly loves you can wait for a callback. A scammer cannot.
One more thing before you do anything else.
Call someone you trust — your son, your daughter, a neighbor. Tell them what happened and ask what they think. You don't have to figure this out alone. No one who loves you will ever be upset that you checked first.
They're safe. And so are you.
Someone called using a voice that sounded like a person you love. This is called a grandparent scam — one of the most common ways kupuna are targeted. You didn't fall for it. You stopped and you checked. That took real courage.
You did something really brave.
Stopping when everything felt urgent — that is not easy. If it was real, they will reach you. If it was a scam — you just protected yourself and the people who love you. We're proud of you.
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