Scam and Fraud Prevention Center
Stay a step ahead of back-to-school scams
Scammers count on back-to-school chaos to catch families off guard. Here's how to stay protected:
Grandparent scams impersonate family members in distress.
Verify first. Call or text your family member directly using a number you already have saved.
Don't trust the voice. AI can clone a real voice from a few seconds of audio, so sounding right isn't proof it's them.
Don’t rely on caller ID. Phone numbers and names can be spoofed to display as someone you know.
Watch the payment method. Urgent requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency are a red flag.
Set a family code word. Something only your actual grandchild would know — a cloned voice can't fake it.
Tech support scams surge with new devices and logins.
Don’t open unknown links. A pop-up or email asking you to run a scan or open a file, is likely a scam.
Beware of unsolicited calls. Real tech support won’t contact you first or ask you to move money to a “safe” account.
Go direct to the source. If you get a “security alert,” check the official website or app.
Don’t authorize remote access. If you didn’t initiate the help request, never give access to your computer and network.
Use strong, unique passwords. Enable multi-factor authentication so a scammer can’t use a stolen password.
Financial aid and tuition scams target college students.
Question surprise tuition calls. Confirm any threat of dropped classes with your school before paying.
Verify scholarship offers. Check with your school’s financial aid office or a trusted database. Avoid “guaranteed” awards.
Watch for red flags. Scammers will often use high-pressure sales tactics to get you to pay in a rush.
Never pay to apply. Legitimate scholarships and loan forgiveness programs don’t charge upfront or processing fees to check eligibility.
File your own FAFSA. Anyone offering to process it for a fee is likely a scam.
If you believe any of your accounts have been compromised, contact your financial institutions immediately to protect your funds and prevent losses. Greenlight’s external account monitoring helps you track activity across accounts held at other financial institutions to detect suspicious activity, prevent incremental losses from fraud, and keep your accounts secure from unauthorized use.
How to manage Greenlight’s external account monitoring alerts for unusual account activity
How to utilize Greenlight Family Shield’s identity theft and deceptive transfer insurance coverage
Were you a victim of a data breach or identify theft? You can place credit freezes or fraud alerts with the three major credit reporting bureaus: Equifax, Array, and Transunion. The Federal Trade Commission provides resources on how to get started.
$20.9B — Amount of fraud losses reported in 2025
Link accounts to catch suspicious activity.
Monitor finances, flag unusual activity, and be ready for emergencies with Family Shield.