College Scams You Shouldn’t Ignore

Scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated, and you should know how to stay safe from them

Scams, in their various forms, are a part of life. Everybody has come across those during their lifetime, sad as it may sound. Research shows that students are an especially vulnerable category of people who can fall victim to fraud. Knowing how to spot suspicious offers and scammers will benefit students, parents, and professors alike.

Gather around and learn what to do if scammers get you!

9 Most Spread College Scams

Let’s cut straight to the chase. If you’re someone applying for a college or don’t know how to navigate the new environment, it’s possible to fall victim to these popular and highly devious schemes:

1. Fake scholarships and financial aid. Scammers deceive students by offering hefty scholarships in exchange for bank account information. In reality, these scholarships don’t exist, and they steal considerable amounts from victims.
2. Accommodation scams. Another favorite target of modern fraud is people who are troubled with finding a place to stay. They often ask for upfront payments for their services and disappear without a trace and accommodation.
3. Employment scams. Fraudsters often set up phony job applications to attract students. They look for personal and financial information that can be exploited.
4. Study resources scams. Scammers create fake web pages that promise discount textbooks or paper-checking services in exchange for money.
5. Blackmail. With people oversharing everything online, there’s a high chance that some of their less-than-appealing content falls into the wrong hands.
6. Student loan debt relief programs. College students are often in debt, so scammers exploit their misfortune by offering help. This altruistic facade allows them to divert student money into their own accounts.
7. Imposter scams. In many cases, scammers set themselves up to appear as other people. They create fake accounts of someone a person knows and ask for money. Sometimes, they pose as university officials and ask for immediate payment of due fees.
8. Online scams. Since students spend many hours online, scammers consistently improve their fraud game. They engage in data theft and phishing campaigns, install malware to access sensitive information, and perform other damaging activities.

How to Stay Safe from College Scams

Protecting yourself from fraud isn’t rocket science. It requires a bit of caution, some sensibility, and a clear head. Oh, and following these tips won’t hurt:

🔒 Protect your personal data. No matter how they introduce themselves, don’t share sensitive data online. You never know who you’re talking to or who has access to the information stored on the web.

🧠 Analyze and have a clear mind. Try to filter your emotions whenever someone approaches you with an amazing offer. Sometimes, their enticing pitch makes you look at the world with rose-colored glasses.

🔎 Do the research. To save yourself from embarrassment and lost funds, always research the people and institutions you come in contact with. Someone might have already identified them as fraudsters.

💸 Don’t pay upfront. No matter what it is: a product, a flat, or a job application if it requires an upfront payment — all of the alarm bells in your brain should go off.

📝 Never pay anyone to fill out the FAFSA. You never know who might stumble upon this document, so fill it out and file it yourself.

🪪 Keep your FSA ID information secure. People attending colleges and universities should apply the same level of security for this data as for other personal details.

💰 Track your financial aid offers. Keep track of the organizations you approached when applying for financial assistance. If some of them declined your application and suddenly gave a positive response weeks later, that’s a red flag right there.

📎 Stick to reputable sources. Fraudsters survive on people who neglect reliable resources. Whatever they try to sell you, look it up. Chances are, some people share their stories of facing similar online scams.

💬 Save all messages from potential scammers. Sometimes, you don’t know if you’re talking to the real deal or a con artist. Thus, save a history of your conversations in case things go south.

🧁 Don’t fall for sweet talk. Scammers try to exploit gullibility and emotions when looking for victims. If an offer sounds like something out of a fantasy novel, it’s probably fiction.

I Got Scammed. What to Do

None of us is perfect, and you can become a victim of one of these swindles. If this has happened, there are several measures you can take:

• Scholarship scam. Contact the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, National Fraud Information Center, or the US Department of Education Office of Inspector General.
• Financial fraud. Immediately inform your bank of the scam to secure the accounts and get fraud protection services.
• Campus resources scam. Students who fall victim to fraud involving campus resources can call campus security or the police.
• Identity theft. Those whose personal data has been stolen can contact the Identity Theft Resource Center or the National Consumer Law Center.
• Accommodation fraud. Organizations like the Better Business Bureau can help student fraud victims with legal consultations and other resources.
• Other types of cons. In other cases, contact the local police department to get guidance.

College Scams in Numbers

I don’t want to scare you, but knowing these numbers will make you look at the issue more seriously. Don’t think you’re so cautious and tech-savvy that this will never happen to you. These people were also sure fraud would bypass them:

• In 2022, 2.4 million people filed reports about fraud and 1.1 million about identity theft.
• In 2022, 85.995 cases of student loan fraud were reported, almost double the number reported in 2021 (46.503).
• In 2022, people aged 18–24 reported the highest median loss ($155) compared to other age groups.

The issue is massive, especially as technologies develop and scammers become more sophisticated. Spread the word to raise awareness, as this is the #1 way to decrease the number of people deceived.