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Stay Secure: 3 Scams to Watch Out for This School Year

07/25/2025

Stay Secure: 3 Scams to Watch Out for This School Year

As students head back to class and get ready for another school year, scammers are also getting to work. From fake scholarship offers to job scams, back-to-school season is a popular time for fraud targeting students and their families.  

Watch out for these three common scams, learn the red flags, and remember how to stay safe. 

Scholarship Scams 

Scammers know students are searching for ways to pay for college, and they take advantage by advertising fake scholarships that require a fee to apply or ask for sensitive personal information. 

Red Flags: 

  • You’re asked to pay an “application fee” or provide your Social Security number up front. 

  • You receive a “you’ve been selected” email for a scholarship you never applied for. 

  • The message creates urgency: “Act now—limited spots available!” 

Stay Safe Tip: Legitimate scholarships never ask for money to apply. Always verify offers through trusted websites or your school’s financial aid office. 

Fake Job Offers & Work-From-Home Scams 

Many students are looking for part-time work, but not every job post is legit. Fraudsters will offer high-paying remote “jobs” and then ask you to deposit a check and send some of the money back or ask for your bank info to “set up a direct deposit.” 

Red Flags: 

  • The job promises easy money with minimal effort. 

  • You’re told to deposit a check and send money back. 

  • There is no interview process, or it is rushed. 

  • They ask for personal or banking information immediately. 

Stay Safe Tip: Never send money to a job before being paid. And if someone sends you a check and asks you to return part of the funds, it’s a scam. 

Online Shopping & Technology Scams

Back-to-school deals on laptops, calculators, and other school supplies are everywhere, but some of them are traps. Scammers create fake online stores or run fake ads offering expensive tech at significant discounts. 

Red Flags: 

  • Prices are way lower than normal, but you must pay right away. 

  • The website has poor grammar, no customer service number, or odd URLs. 

  • You’re asked to pay with gift cards, Zelle®, Venmo, or wire transfer. 

Stay Safe Tip: Stick to retailers you know and avoid social media ads from unfamiliar accounts. Always verify before you buy. 

Quick Tips for a Scam-Free Semester 

  • Don’t pay for scholarship applications. 

  • Be cautious of job offers that sound too good to be true. 

  • Shop from trusted retailers and avoid sketchy links. 

  • Never send personal information or money to people you do not know. 

  • Report suspicious activity to your financial institution right away. 

A Reminder from Family Trust Federal Credit Union 

We will never: 

  • Ask for your digital banking username or password  

  • Request your card number, PIN, or Social Security number through text, phone, or email  

  • Tell you to lie to our staff, keep a transaction secret, or move money in unusual ways