FinStart logo
WebinarsJoin Collegiate
Sign In
COLLEGEFRAUD

College Students and Scams: Protecting Yourself in a Digital World

Written by: Therese (she/her)

2 min read | Published: June 27, 2024

Image for College Students and Scams: Protecting Yourself in a Digital World

College students are navigating a complex landscape of academics, social life and personal growth. Unfortunately, scammers recognize this vulnerability and actively target these groups. In this article, we will explore common scams aimed at college students and provide practical tips to help safeguard your identity and finances.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Scams

The scam: Scammers pose as scholarship providers or financial aid officers, promising exclusive scholarships or grants. They may ask for an upfront fee or personal information to process your application.

How to protect yourself:

Phishing Emails and Texts

The scam: Scammers send emails or texts pretending to be from your college, bank or other trusted institutions. They ask for login credentials or personal information.

How to protect yourself:

Job and Internship Scams

The scam: Scammers post fake job listings or internships. They may ask for payment for background checks or training materials. They may also send you a fake check and ask you to cash it and use part of the funds for what seems like legitimate employment purchases and then ask you to send the remainder of the funds back to them electronically. The check will usually bounce, ultimately leaving you responsible for paying back the full amount of the check.

How to protect yourself:

Tech Support Scams

The scam: Scammers call claiming to be tech support from your college or a tech company. They ask for remote access to your computer or demand payment for fixing nonexistent issues.

How to protect yourself:

Rent and Housing Scams

The scam: Scammers post fake rental listings, asking for deposits or rent upfront. When you arrive, the property doesn’t exist.

How to protect yourself:

Social Media Impersonation

The scam: Scammers create fake profiles of classmates or professors. They may ask for money or personal information.

How to protect yourself:

Remember, scammers thrive on your trust and urgency. Stay informed, be cautious, and protect yourself from falling victim to their schemes. As college students, you are building your future — make sure to do it wisely!

Sources:

https://news.valenciacollege.edu/beware-of-job-scams-targeting-college-students/#:~:text=A%20common%20scam%2C%20according%20to,that%20check%20will%20typically%20bounce

https://www.idwatchdog.com/education/9-college-student-identity-scams#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Identity%20Theft,getting%20a%20new%20credit%20card

https://www.ml.com/articles/college-students-avoiding-scams.html

[https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/beware-of-scams-targeting-college-and-graduate-students/](https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/protect-yourself/consumer-advisories/beware-of-scams-targeting-college-and-graduate-students/\)

Was this helpful?

Browse Related

Image for What will my student loan payments be?

What will my student loan payments be?

CALCULATOR | COLLEGE

Plan your student loan journey confidently. Enter loan amount, interest rate, and term to calculate your anticipated monthly student loan payments.

Learn More

Image for Grants and Scholarships Quiz

Grants and Scholarships Quiz

QUIZ | COLLEGE

Learning more about grants and scholarships can protect you from scams, losing your award money, and missing out on financial aid opportunities. To test your knowledge of grants and scholarships, check out our latest quiz.

Learn More

Image for Phishing, Vishing, and Smishing Quiz

Phishing, Vishing, and Smishing Quiz

QUIZ | FRAUD

Some of the most common tools for scammers to deceive you are phishing, vishing, and smishing. Take our quiz to see if you’ve taken the right steps to protect yourself.

Learn More

Browse by Category

Image for Budgeting

Budgeting

Image for Career

Career

Image for College

College

Image for Credit

Credit

Image for Fraud

Fraud

Image for Investing

Investing

Image for Lifestyle & Travel

Lifestyle & Travel


Collegiate Credit Union
CollegiateCU.org

Collegiate Credit Union accounts are held at Michigan State University Federal Credit Union where savings are federally insured to at least $250,000 by the NCUA and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.

If you are using a screen reader or other auxiliary aid and are having problems using this website, please call (844) 201-9519 for assistance.

LEARNBLOGSPODCASTSQUIZZESCALCULATORSVIDEOSWEBINARSJOIN COLLEGIATEFAQABOUTCONTACT US
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Copyright © 2024 Reseda Group LLC, used under license.

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer