Back to School Scams: What Parents and Students Need to Know
Aug 22, 20243 min read
As the new school year begins, families are busy with shopping and getting ready. Unfortunately, scammers take advantage of this busy time, targeting both parents and students. Knowing what to watch out for can help protect you and your family during this season.
Common Scams to Watch Out For:
1. Fake Online Stores:
Scammers set up fake websites that look like real online stores, offering great deals on school supplies, electronics, and textbooks. These sites often advertise heavily on social media to attract shoppers. Once you pay, the products either never arrive or are cheap knock-offs. Worse, the scammers might use your payment information to steal from you.
2. Scholarship and Grant Scams:
Many students and families are eager to find scholarships and grants because education is expensive. Scammers take advantage of this by offering fake scholarships that require an "application fee" or ask for personal information. They might promise guaranteed scholarships in exchange for a big upfront payment. These offers are often too good to be true, leaving families out of money with no real financial aid.
3. Student Loan Scams:
Student loans are a big financial responsibility, and scammers know this. They might contact students or parents, pretending to offer loan forgiveness programs, lower interest rates, or special repayment plans for a fee. These scammers often pose as real loan servicers or government agencies to gain trust. Falling for these scams can result in losing money and damaging your actual loan status, causing even more financial stress.
4. Phishing Emails and Texts:
During back-to-school time, phishing scams increase. These scams often come as emails or text messages that seem to be from schools, bookstores, or educational services. They might say there’s a problem with your enrollment, a textbook order, or your student account, urging you to click a link or provide personal information. Doing so can lead to identity theft or financial loss.
5. Fake Tech Support:
As students set up new laptops, tablets, and other devices, scammers pretending to be tech support agents may contact you. They might claim your device has a virus or needs urgent updates, trying to trick you into downloading malware or giving them remote access to your device. This can lead to data theft or financial loss.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Verify Websites: Before buying anything online, check the website’s URL for misspellings or unusual extensions. Look up reviews and complaints about the site. Stick to well-known and trusted online stores.
- Research Scholarships: Real scholarships never ask for an application fee. Always research the scholarship provider to make sure they are legitimate.
- Be Wary of Student Loan Offers: If someone contacts you about loan forgiveness, lower interest rates, or special repayment plans, check their legitimacy before giving any information. Contact your loan provider directly using a verified phone number or website.
- Be Cautious with Emails: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown senders. Verify the sender’s email address, and if something seems suspicious, contact the institution directly using a trusted phone number or email address.
- Use Official Support Channels: Never respond to tech support offers you didn’t ask for. If you have a problem with your device, contact the manufacturer or retailer through their official channels.
By staying alert and informed, you can protect yourself and your family from back-to-school scams. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and double-check before taking action.
How can Truecaller help?
Truecaller offers more than just our renowned Caller ID and spam-blocking features; we provide a fortress against fraud. Our technology helps you identify unknown calls and messages, allowing you to block scam attempts proactively, by both calls and texts. By using Truecaller, you ensure that only verified and legitimate communications reach you.
At Truecaller we have made it our mission to build trust in communication. We do our best to help you navigate a world where fraud and unwanted communication are a part of your daily life. Stay updated about recent scams, and watch the latest YouTube videos on how you and the 400 million-strong community of people using Truecaller every month can stay protected. You'll find us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.