Scams targeting parents and caregivers

Hang up and call the family member back directly using a known number.

Call the school or student directly using a known number before taking any action.

Contact the hospital through its official number and verify the patient before paying.

Call the relative or local precinct directly using a public number.

Contact the loved one through a separate channel and alert local police if needed.

Do not handle goods or forward packages for an employer you cannot verify.

Verify school alerts through the official app or school office.

Do not send money to anyone who cannot verify identity outside the romance narrative.

Verify through an independent hospital number before believing any emergency.

Open the school portal from your saved bookmark or app only.

Call the provider from your bill or patient portal instead of the text message.

Only sponsor children through well-established organizations verified on Charity Navigator or GuideStar

Contact the healthcare provider's billing department directly to verify any outstanding balance.

Verify the agent's license and the insurance company through your state insurance department.

Never wire money to a landlord you have not met — wire transfers cannot be reversed.

Ask a trusted local contact to visit the property on your behalf or arrange a live video walkthrough.

Apply for federal Direct Consolidation Loans for free at StudentAid.gov

Always log in to your loan servicer account by typing the URL directly into your browser, not by clicking email links

Hang up on any robocall about student loans — the federal government does not make unsolicited calls about loan programs

Never enter your FSA ID credentials through a link in an email — always navigate directly to StudentAid.gov

Compare plans yourself using the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE for free help

Review your Medicare Summary Notices regularly and report any unfamiliar plan enrollments immediately

Never let anyone into your home for a medical visit unless your doctor arranged it and you received advance notice

Under federal law, movers must deliver for no more than 110 percent of a binding estimate — know this before moving day.

Request to be present at the weigh-in or ask for the reweigh option, which is your legal right under FMCSA regulations.

Confirm delivery timelines and storage terms in writing before the move begins.

Use only movers registered in the Defense Personal Property System or recommended by your installation's Transportation Office.

Hang up and call your grandchild directly on their known phone number to verify the story.

Hang up and independently contact your grandchild or their parents to verify.

Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone number, email, or social media.

Call the grandchild's phone directly or contact their parents to verify the situation.

Try to contact your grandchild independently — use another phone or ask someone nearby to call them.

Establish a family code word that only family members know, to verify identity during emergency calls.

Ask for the attorney's full name, bar number, and firm — then verify independently through your state bar's lawyer search.

Call your grandchild's phone directly — if they answer, the scam is confirmed.

Hang up and contact your grandchild through their normal phone or social media to confirm their location.

Real police never call to request money or banking information — hang up if asked.

Reverse image search the profile photos — stolen military photos are commonly reused across scam accounts.

Understand that no branch of the U.S. military charges service members or their families for leave.

Access all military benefits directly through VA.gov or your local VA office — never through a third party.

Verify any VA lender through the VA's official lender search at va.gov before providing information.

Verify any charity through Charity Navigator, GuideStar, or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance before donating.

Verify any moving company through the FMCSA database at protectyourmove.gov and check for active licensing.

Never pay upfront for a job — legitimate employers cover training and equipment costs.

Purchase legitimate military surplus only through GovPlanet, GovSales.gov, or other authorized government liquidation platforms.

Know that the government never calls to offer grants or asks for fees to release government funds.

Request and review the company income disclosure statement before joining, paying attention to what percentage of participants earn a profit

Contact Adult Protective Services (APS) in your state to report suspected financial exploitation.

Document missing items and suspicious transactions with dates and amounts.

Alert the care facility administration and request a review of visitor logs and resident interactions.

Consult a HUD-approved housing counselor before signing any reverse mortgage agreement.

Request a full history of all annuity transactions and compare each replacement against the original terms.

Never share your Medicare number with unsolicited callers — Medicare will not call to ask for your number.

Contact Adult Protective Services to report suspected financial exploitation.

Request a full accounting from the court and review all guardian-submitted financial reports.

Set up account alerts and spending thresholds with the bank to monitor joint account activity.

Never pay upfront fees to receive an inheritance — legitimate estates do not require beneficiaries to pay processing costs out of pocket.

Never pay to apply for a scholarship — legitimate scholarships do not charge application fees.

Understand that no one can guarantee you will win a scholarship — selection is always competitive.

Never sign up for paid services under pressure at a seminar — take materials home and research the company first.

Complete the FAFSA for free at studentaid.gov — it is the only official site and never charges a fee.

Always navigate directly to studentaid.gov — never click links in emails claiming to be from Federal Student Aid.

Use free scholarship search engines like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, College Board BigFuture, or your school's financial aid portal.

Contact college coaches directly or use the NCAA Eligibility Center — legitimate recruiting does not require upfront fees from families.

Verify scholarships through the university's official international student office — never through third-party websites alone.

Remember that you cannot win a scholarship you never applied for — treat unsolicited awards as scams.

Legitimate companies do not recruit product reviewers through unsolicited texts or social media messages offering easy money.

Check your actual shipment status directly on ups.com using your real tracking number.

Purchase toys only from authorized retailers and check the Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov for recalls.

Do not participate — these gift exchanges are illegal pyramid schemes under federal law regardless of the gift value.

Purchase textbooks only from your campus bookstore, Amazon, Chegg, or other established resellers with buyer protection.

Log in to your school's financial aid portal directly by typing the URL — never through links in emails.

Only purchase furniture you can inspect in person, and meet in a public place on campus.

Verify campus job offers through your university's official career center or human resources office.

Never send money for housing you have not visited in person or verified through the university's official housing office.

Use free, legitimate student discount platforms like UNiDAYS, Student Beans, or your school's official discount programs.

Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing.

Legitimate scholarships never require application or processing fees — any request for payment is a scam.

Verify fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating.

Use your school's official tutoring center or vetted platforms like Wyzant or Tutor.com that offer payment protection.

Always verify by calling your grandchild directly on their known phone number before sending any money.

Only obtain graduation tickets through your university's official ticketing system or registrar's office.

Contact the detention facility directly or use the ICE detainee locator at locator.ice.gov to verify bond amounts and payment procedures.

Hang up and call your child's school directly using the number you have on file to verify any emergency.

Check if your child has a credit file by contacting all three credit bureaus — if one exists and you did not create it, fraud has likely occurred.

Verify any product recall at cpsc.gov before clicking any links or providing information.

Only install parental control apps from established developers available in the official app stores, such as Bark, Qustodio, or Google Family Link.

Use established background check services like Checkr, GoodHire, or your state's official background check system.

Enable purchase authentication in your device settings so every in-app purchase requires a password or biometric confirmation.

Use established family tracking apps from known developers like Life360, Apple Find My, or Google Family Link.

Verify any fundraiser by contacting the school's front office or PTA directly before donating.

Hang up and call your pediatrician's office directly using the number from their website or your contacts to verify any billing issues.

Legitimate talent agencies never charge upfront fees — they earn commissions only when your child books paid work.

Hang up and immediately try to contact the supposedly kidnapped family member directly.

Apply for rent assistance only through official government channels at your state or county housing authority.

Check your child tax credit status only at irs.gov/credits-deductions/child-tax-credit.

Verify all product recalls at cpsc.gov or the manufacturer's official website before taking any action.

Research the company's income disclosure statement — if available, it will show that most participants earn little or nothing.

Ask to see the company's income disclosure statement and calculate typical annual earnings after expenses.

Ask for the income disclosure statement and calculate median earnings after required product purchases.

Compare the products to similar items available in retail stores to evaluate the price premium.

It is okay to say no — a real friend will respect your decision without pressuring you.

Always ask for and read the company's income disclosure statement before joining.

Compare CBD product pricing and third-party lab testing to non-MLM brands available in stores.

Compare the cost per serving to retail meal replacements and supplements.

Never invest in inventory you cannot return — check the return policy before purchasing.

Ask: Can I earn a reasonable income selling products without recruiting anyone? If the honest answer is no, it is an MLM.