Is "is the panicked call from my child asking for bail real" a scam?

Question

Is "is the panicked call from my child asking for bail real" a scam? How do I know, and what should I do?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is a known, dangerous scam. Scammers use AI to clone a relative's voice from social media clips, then call pretending to be in a crisis—accident, arrest, or hospital—and demand an urgent UPI transfer. The voice sounds genuine. Red flags: The voice sounds like a family member but the caller refuses a video call, citing a broken phone or poor signal • Extreme urgency: you must send money immediately or something terrible will happen • The caller insists you not tell other family members until the money is sent • Calling the family member back on their known number reveals they are safe and never called. What to do: Hang up and immediately call the family member back on their known number to verify • Agree on a secret family code word that only genuine members know, to use in real emergencies • Never transfer money via UPI based solely on a phone call, no matter how real the voice sounds • Report at https://cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (national cyber helpline).

Is “is the panicked call from my child asking for bail real” a scam?

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