In 2025, a network of Canadian call centers was prosecuted for defrauding hundreds of elderly Americans out of more than $21 million across 46 states. The scammers posed as grandchildren in distress and asked for bail money. What made their calls convincing enough to work?

The calls worked because of specific personal detail, not technology. Scammers sourced names, family relationships, and locations from public Facebook profiles. Armed with that information, they could open a call with a grandchild's real name and reference genuine family details, which made the story feel credible before the victim had a chance to question it. This is why privacy settings matter. A public profile with tagged family members and a post about a grandchild gives a scammer everything they need to sound convincing. The fix is straightforward: limit who can see your posts and your friends list.