Share spring break travel plans to avoid "grandparent scam" - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

MADISON (WKOW) -- The Madison area will be on spring break next week and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection wants you to stay safe.

They're asking students and young adults going on spring break trips to share travel plans with family members to avoid becoming a victim of family emergency scams. They say to watch out for "grandparent scams."

"Grandparent scams" involve a request for cash tied to a story about an emergency a grandchild faces. The scammer poses as a grandchild and will call an elderly citizen asking for money.

"The hook in the scam is really as they're asking for this money to be transferred from the grandparent, they say please don't tell anyone about this, don't call your mom or dad," says Jerad Albracht from the Wisconsin Department of Consumer Protection.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says prepare by telling your family members where you're going, do not wire any money and never provide your bank or credit card account numbers.

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