- Why can't I just call my family member back to check it's really them?
- Scammers anticipate this. In the most convincing versions, they've already told a story that makes the callback seem unnecessary. The typical script: "the situation is urgent, don't call, just send the money". More sophisticated attacks give you a callback number they control, not your relative's real number. A safe word defeats this entirely: it's a signal the scammer can't know because it was never digital.
- How is this different from call-blocking apps?
- Call blocking filters out suspicious calls before they reach you. That's useful, but does nothing once a call gets through from a spoofed number that looks like a trusted contact. FamilyGuard is the other side of the problem: a verification layer for calls that appear legitimate. The two aren't alternatives. They solve different parts of the same threat.
- AI voice cloning sounds terrifying. Does FamilyGuard stop it?
- No. Nothing stops someone from cloning a voice. That capability is now cheap and public. What FamilyGuard does is make voice cloning irrelevant for your family, because your verification signal has nothing to do with how someone sounds. A perfect clone still can't tell you a word that was never recorded, never texted, and only shared in person.
- What happens to my data?
- We collect your phone number, first name, and group name. That's it. Your safe word is encrypted before it reaches our database. We can't read it, and neither can anyone who accessed the database without the encryption key. We use your phone number to send SMS drills and alerts. We don't sell it, share it with third parties, or use it for marketing.
- What if my relative forgets the safe word?
- The group owner can set a new one from the app at any time and share it with the family in person. The old word is deactivated immediately. The app deliberately cannot help you recover a forgotten word over the internet. That would defeat its own purpose.
- Does this work on iPhone?
- Yes, the app works on any device with a mobile browser. The only exception is the "pick from contacts" shortcut on the invite screen, which uses a browser API not yet supported on iOS. iPhone users add phone numbers manually instead. Everything else, including receiving drills and alerts by SMS, works identically on all phones.
- I've never been targeted. Do I actually need this?
- The attacks are growing in volume but still relatively rare, so most people haven't been targeted yet. The problem is that these scams work best in high-stress moments. When someone is convinced their grandchild is in danger, they're not thinking clearly about verification. Families who have a safe word established before an incident respond correctly. Families who learn about safe words for the first time after an incident wish they'd set one up earlier. The right time to do this is when it feels unnecessary.
- Is there a cost?
- The pilot is free while we're testing with early families. We may charge a small amount later to cover SMS infrastructure costs, roughly the cost of a coffee a month. We'll give existing users clear advance notice before anything changes, and anyone who joined during the pilot won't be surprised with a sudden bill.