About the product
What is The Family Word?
A small physical kit and a private hotline that rings the family members the household chose. The whole product aims at one outcome. When a scammer using an AI-cloned voice calls an older parent, the family already has a routine in place that makes the scam fail.
Do I need an app?
No. There is no app, no login, and no new password to forget.
How much does it cost?
$59, one time. Year 1 of the hotline is bundled. Free US shipping.
Will it work without internet?
The kit's printed hotline number works from any phone. Landline, flip phone, smartphone. The NFC-tap shortcut on the card needs an NFC-capable smartphone, but the printed number does not.
Setup
How long does setup take?
About ten minutes at the parent's home. The family agrees on a private cue, lists the family members to ring, and places the card near the parent's phone.
Where should the card live?
Near the phone the parent actually uses. On the kitchen counter, next to the landline, or in a drawer they can reach without bending. The card is only useful if it is in arm's reach when a strange call comes in.
Can I set this up remotely for my parent?
We recommend doing setup at the parent's home, not remotely. The family routine has to live with the household. The card belongs near the parent's phone, and the chosen cue should come from the family itself. See our caregivers page for more.
Using it
When does the hotline start working?
The day the kit arrives.
Will my parent need to use a smartphone?
The card is tapped by whoever is near the phone. Usually the parent, sometimes a visiting family member. If your parent does not have an NFC-capable phone, the kit also has a printed hotline number they can dial from any phone.
Will it work on a flip phone or landline?
Yes. The printed hotline number works on any US phone. The NFC-tap shortcut needs a smartphone with NFC enabled. Most iPhones and most Android phones from the last several years support NFC.
Can I add multiple family members?
Yes. You choose the order they are rung when a tap fires.
The hotline
Will The Family Word call my parent?
Never unprompted, and never to ask for money or codes. The hotline only rings the family members you listed when a tap on the card fires it. See the hotline policy.
Is this 911?
No. The hotline is not an emergency service. In an emergency, dial 911. See the hotline policy.
Does The Family Word listen to or record calls?
No. Routing calls are not recorded by default. If we ever introduce recording for support, we will disclose it and get consent. See the hotline policy.
What if no one in the family answers?
The hotline cycles through the family list and then ends. The kit's foundation is the family's own routine, not the routing service.
Buying and shipping
How long does shipping take?
Free USPS Ground Advantage. Typically 2 to 5 business days handling plus carrier time. See our shipping page for full details.
Can I return it?
Yes. 60 days, any reason. See our refunds page.
Do you ship to Canada or other countries?
We ship the kit to the US only at launch. The routing service can ring US and Canada phone numbers reliably. International numbers can be added as a routing target, but reliability is best-effort. See our shipping page.
Will my Stripe receipt say The Family Word?
Yes. The statement descriptor is "THE FAMILY WORD". The legal merchant is UpfrontOps LLC.
Family logistics
I am a caregiver, not a family member. Can I set this up?
Yes, with the person's authorization. See our caregivers page.
What if my parents are divorced or live in different households?
Each household needs its own kit. The card belongs near the phone the parent uses, and the family routine has to live with the household where the parent actually lives.
Privacy and safety
What happens to my parent's phone number?
We use the numbers you list as the family members to ring. We do not share or sell them. See our privacy policy.
What if scammers know about The Family Word?
We talk publicly about the threat and the outcome. A routine that makes the scam fail. We intentionally do not publicize the specifics of the verification step. That is by design. The strength of a routine lives partly in the family-specific details we do not store and do not share.
Where do I write you with a question?
Email hello@thefamilyword.com, or use the contact page.