Back-to-school season brings new routines and opportunities, but unfortunately, it also creates new opportunities for scammers. Whether you’re heading off to college, helping a child prepare for school, or supporting a loved one through the process, it’s important to know how fraudsters try to take advantage of busy schedules and major life changes. Taking a few precautions now can help protect your personal information, finances, and peace of mind.

1. Watch Out for Fake Job Offers

Many students look for flexible ways to earn extra income during the school year. Scammers know this and often advertise fake jobs that promise high pay for very little work. Common examples include:

• Secret shopper opportunities
• Movie or product review jobs
• Package reshipping positions
• Work-from-home jobs with unusually high pay

A major red flag is being asked to send money for training, supplies, or background checks. Legitimate employers will not ask you to pay to get hired.

Protect Yourself:

• Never pay a fee to apply for or accept a job.
• Verify recruiters through the company’s official website.
• Be suspicious of jobs that sound too good to be true.

2. Be Careful with Tuition, Grant, and Scholarship Offers

Scammers often target students and families by promising access to grants, scholarships, or tuition assistance. While legitimate financial aid programs exist, scammers may:

• Guarantee financial awards
• Request upfront fees
• Ask for banking information before approval
• Claim they can secure aid unavailable to other applicants

Remember: assistance programs may charge application fees, but promises of guaranteed money or exclusive access should raise concerns.

Protect Yourself:

• Research offers independently.
• Apply through official school, state, or federal resources.
• Never share sensitive information unless you’ve verified the source.

3. Avoid Fake Housing Listings

Finding housing can be stressful, especially when options are limited. Fraudsters frequently post fake rental listings using stolen photos and attractive pricing. They may pressure prospective renters to send deposits quickly before seeing the property.

Protect Yourself:

• Tour the property when possible.
• Confirm ownership through trusted sources.
• Never wire money to reserve housing.
• Be cautious when a landlord refuses to meet or speak directly.

4. Don’t Fall for “Account Locked” Messages

Students increasingly rely on online portals, email accounts, and learning platforms. Scammers may send messages claiming:

• Your student account has been locked
• Your tuition payment failed
• Your email needs verification
• Immediate action is required

These messages often include fraudulent links designed to steal usernames and passwords.

Protect Yourself:

• Do not click links in unexpected messages.
• Visit your school’s website directly.
• Contact the school using known contact information.

5. Think Twice Before Using Public Wi-Fi

Coffee shops, libraries, airports, and campus locations often provide free Wi-Fi, but these networks can create security risks. Cybercriminals may attempt to intercept information transmitted over unsecured connections.

Protect Yourself:

• Avoid accessing financial accounts on public Wi-Fi.
• Use cellular data or a trusted VPN when possible.
• Log out of websites after use.

6. Use Strong Passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication

One stolen password can provide access to multiple accounts if the same password is reused. Strong passwords remain one of the most effective ways to protect personal information.

Protect Yourself:

• Use unique passwords for important accounts.
• Consider a password manager.
• Enable multi-factor authentication whenever available.

7. Beware of Fake Microsoft, Apple, and Google Alerts

Support scams often appear as pop-ups, emails, or text messages claiming there’s a problem with your device or account. The message may urge you to call a number immediately or click a link to “fix” the issue. Legitimate companies generally do not contact customers unexpectedly to warn them about viruses or account problems.

Protect Yourself:

• Close unexpected pop-ups.
• Contact the company directly using trusted information.
• Never grant remote access to your device.

8. Know the Warning Signs of Student Loan Forgiveness Scams

Scammers commonly promote student loan forgiveness programs and may claim they can guarantee faster approval. Many request upfront fees or ask borrowers to share account credentials.

Protect Yourself:

• Be skeptical of anyone guaranteeing loan forgiveness.
• Avoid paying for application assistance from companies or individuals you have not verified.
• Work directly with your loan servicer whenever possible.

Stay Alert, Stay Secure

Technology makes school, work, and life more convenient, but it also gives scammers new ways to reach potential victims.

The best defense is slowing down before you act. If you receive an unexpected email, text, phone call, or offer, take a moment to verify the source through trusted channels. A little caution today can help prevent a costly mistake tomorrow.

If you think you’ve been targeted by financial fraud or notice suspicious activity involving your First Commerce account, contact us immediately at 800.533.5772 or visit your nearest financial center.

First Commerce Credit Union provides this content to inform and inspire. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee this information is accurate, complete or current. This information is not professional advice (tax, legal, financial, etc.) and should not replace your individual consultation with qualified advisors. Laws, rules, and personal circumstances can change, so please verify how this information applies (or does not apply) to your situation and location. All decisions remain your responsibility. First Commerce Credit Union and its affiliates and employees assume no liability for outcomes resulting from the use of this material.