Scam category
Back-to-school scams
Back-to-school scams target students and parents during the expensive transition into a new academic year. Fraudsters sell textbooks they never ship, list fake student housing, offer counterfeit school supplies, and impersonate universities to collect enrollment deposits. The seasonal urgency and high costs make victims less likely to verify before paying.
Category activity
“back to school scam”
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- A textbook price is dramatically below the going rate and the seller wants payment outside the platform.
- A student housing listing requires a deposit before you can view the property in person.
- An email claiming to be from your university asks for payment through an unfamiliar portal.
Common searches
fake textbook deal scam
Scam websites and social media sellers offer college textbooks at steep discounts, then deliver counterfeit copies, wrong editions, or nothing at all after collecting payment.
Purchase textbooks only from your campus bookstore, Amazon, Chegg, or other established resellers with buyer protection.
College students
U.S.
student loan disbursement phishing scam
Phishing emails impersonate financial aid offices or loan servicers, claiming there is an issue with the student's loan disbursement that requires immediate action to resolve.
Log in to your school's financial aid portal directly by typing the URL — never through links in emails.
College students
U.S.
dorm furniture marketplace scam
Fake sellers on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and campus buy/sell groups list dorm furniture at attractive prices, collect deposits or full payment, then never deliver the items.
Only purchase furniture you can inspect in person, and meet in a public place on campus.
College students
U.S.
fake campus job scam
Fraudulent job offers sent to student email addresses promise easy on-campus or remote work with high pay, then trick students into depositing fake checks or sharing personal data.
Verify campus job offers through your university's official career center or human resources office.
College students
U.S.
roommate finder scam
Fake roommate listings on housing boards and apps collect deposits and first-month rent from students for apartments that do not exist or are not controlled by the scammer.
Never send money for housing you have not visited in person or verified through the university's official housing office.
College students
U.S.
fake student discount card scam
Scammers sell worthless student discount cards or memberships that promise savings at major retailers and restaurants but provide no legitimate discounts.
Use free, legitimate student discount platforms like UNiDAYS, Student Beans, or your school's official discount programs.
College students
U.S.
laptop deal phishing scam
Phishing ads and emails target students with fake back-to-school laptop deals from major brands, leading to credential theft or purchase of nonexistent products.
Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing.
College students
U.S.
fake scholarship deadline scam
Scammers contact students claiming they have won or been selected for a scholarship but must pay processing fees or provide personal information by an urgent deadline to claim it.
Legitimate scholarships never require application or processing fees — any request for payment is a scam.
High school seniors
U.S.
school supply fundraiser scam
Scammers posing as school officials or parent-teacher organizations solicit donations for school supply drives that do not exist, pocketing the money intended for students.
Verify fundraisers directly with the school administration before donating.
Parents
U.S.
fake tutoring service scam
Fraudulent tutoring services collect upfront payments from students and parents for sessions that are never delivered, or use the engagement to harvest personal and financial information.
Use your school's official tutoring center or vetted platforms like Wyzant or Tutor.com that offer payment protection.
College students
U.S.
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