One word that stops a scam call cold
“Grandma, it’s me. I’m in trouble. Please don’t tell Mom.” Calls like this rely on panic. A code word only your family knows lets Mom check in seconds. Pick one together, agree who Mom calls to check, and set a few house rules.
Grandma? It’s me. I’m in trouble and I need money for bail. Please don’t tell Mom and Dad.
Okay sweetheart. What’s our family word?
…
Pick a code word
Two words that don’t belong together are easy to remember and hard to guess. Not a pet’s name, street, birthday or anything on social media.
Who Mom calls to check
If a call feels off, Mom hangs up and calls one of these people on the number she already has. Not the number the caller gives.
Our house rules
Short rules that make it easy to say no. Keep the ones that fit your family.
Three signs it’s a scam
Police services across Canada keep warning about “emergency” calls that pretend to be a grandchild, a lawyer or an officer. They nearly always follow the same pattern.
It’s urgent
An accident, an arrest, a hospital bill. The caller needs money right now, before anyone can think.
It’s a secret
“Don’t tell Mom and Dad.” Secrecy is the giveaway. Real family is happy for you to check.
It’s an odd way to pay
Gift cards, crypto, a wire transfer or a courier picking up cash at the door.
Think it happened? Call your local police and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. It happens to smart, careful people. There’s no shame in it.
A code word protects one call. A Circle keeps everyone close.
Scammers count on Mom feeling alone with the problem. In Mom’s private Circle, the people she trusts are one tap away, and she decides who’s in.
- “Is this really you?”One private chat with family, so checking takes seconds.
- Mom decides who’s inPrivate by default. Nobody is invited until she says so.
- A daily check-inA quick “I’m good today” that reaches everyone at once.
- One shared calendarVisits and plans everyone can see, so a “surprise trip” call stands out.
Keep the conversation going
Talking about money
Where the papers live, the regular bills and who can help, one calm step at a time.
Read the guide Free toolWho holds what
The will, powers of attorney and the health card: where each one is kept and who has a copy.
Make the list Free toolParent checklist
23 quick checks, from the spare key to a hospital plan. See the gaps in about 5 minutes.
Start the checklistQuestions families ask
Is my code word sent anywhere?
No. Everything on this page stays in this browser. We never see your code word, and “Share the rules with family” leaves it out on purpose.
How do we share the code word safely?
Say it in person or on a call. Don’t put it in a text, email or group chat, where it can be forwarded or read over a shoulder.
What if Mom forgets the word?
That’s fine. The rule that matters most is simple: hang up and call back on a number she already has. A real grandchild won’t mind.
Will this offend Mom?
Frame it as a family thing, not a worry about her. Everyone gets the word, including the grandkids, and everyone follows the same rules.