Fall and a return to the classroom are exciting times of the year for many students. It’s also a time of big changes, especially for students who are going to college or getting ready for other new chapters. Scammers, unfortunately, love to take advantage of some of the uncertainty and changes to steal people’s money. Keep an eye out for these top scams this back-to-school season.
1. False scholarship offers
Some fraudsters will invent a scholarship, then call students claiming they’ve won money toward their tuition. As part of the process of claiming the money, fraudsters will then ask for a social security number and can use that information to steal their identity.
2. Fake financial aid applications
Financial aid is an important step for many college students to take. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that many families fill out each year. However, sometimes a fraudster will fill out a fake application with a student's information in order to gain access to their financial aid awards. For that reason, it's important to keep all FAFSA information private and to only file on behalf of yourself or your student.
3. Textbook scams
With the price of books rising each year, many students are looking for a way to save money on the books they need for class. Buying used books can be an excellent way to save money and learn more about comparison shopping. However, if a deal looks too good to be true, it likely is. Students should be wary of books that seem especially cheap that come from an online retailer. It can be smart to check physical bookstores around the college first to find books in person and be sure the deal is real.
And, when buying digital text books, it's important to make sure that the link you're is using is legitimate. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Sticking to websites provided by your professors and colleges is the best way to ensure you don't get scammed.
4. Housing fraud
While many students will live on campus in housing provided by their university, many schools have students, particularly upperclassmen, live off campus. This can be a great way for students to gain independence and get practice with living in an apartment away from their family. However, there are also bad actors who create fake apartment listings, collect first and last months' rent, and then disappear. Then, when the student arrives, there is no apartment, and they have to scramble. To avoid this, it’s best not to send any money for an apartment you haven’t seen in person. If that’s not possible, it’s important to vet the person who is renting the apartment and make sure they are legitimate.
With all of these scams, the most important thing is to be careful. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you can’t confirm the identity of the person you are interacting with, you need to be wary about their motives. And if anyone is pressuring you or asking you to get them information quickly, that can be an indication that something is a scam. Stay protected this back-to-school season by being aware of the most common scams.