Generally done by phone, the fraudster takes advantage of your desire to be helpful. In a common version, you receive a call telling you that your grandchild is in trouble and needs financial help, sometimes with further explanation that they have been in an accident or arrested. The fraudster asks you to withdraw a large sum of cash and states you cannot tell anyone about the situation, or the family member could get in more trouble. The fraudster may ask you to purchase gift cards, send the funds via western union, or arrange for a local fraudster to pick up the funds from your house.