Throughout the state, Wisconsin students and families are in search of sunshine and relaxation. But for relatives holding down the fort back home, spring break could bring an increased risk of grandparent scam attempts (also known as “family emergency scams”).

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) asks spring break travelers to privately share their travel itineraries with their relatives and to develop a family plan for dealing with these threatening and frightening calls.

How the grandparent scam works: a fraudster calls a potential victim ou...