$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
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.
“back to school scam”
↑ 202%Key indicators
Usually targetsCollege students
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$960
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create ads on social media and search engines featuring popular student laptops at deeply discounted back-to-school prices.
2
Clicking the ad leads to a convincing replica of Dell, Apple, or Best Buy checkout pages that capture credit card information and personal data.
3
Victims either receive nothing, a counterfeit product, or have their payment information used for fraudulent purchases.
What to do first
Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing.
Related terms
fake student laptop dealback-to-school electronics scamBack-to-school scamsEmailRisingCollege studentsParentsHigh school studentsFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdomfake student laptop dealback-to-school electronics scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Steven, 21, a college students, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate back-to-school scams situation while using Email. Scammers create ads on social media and search engines featuring popular student laptops at deeply discounted back-to-school prices.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Clicking the ad leads to a convincing replica of Dell, Apple, or Best Buy checkout pages that capture credit card information and personal data.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Victims either receive nothing, a counterfeit product, or have their payment information used for fraudulent purchases.
The outcome
Steven realized something was wrong when laptop deal is 50% or more below retail with no credible retailer backing. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing. Steven's experience shows why laptop deal is 50% or more below retail with no credible retailer backing and ad or email links to a domain that does not belong to the manufacturer or authorized reseller are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Laptop deal is 50% or more below retail with no credible retailer backing
- Ad or email links to a domain that does not belong to the manufacturer or authorized reseller
- Site only accepts non-reversible payment methods like wire transfers or cryptocurrency
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing.
- ✓Check the URL carefully before entering payment information and ensure it matches the official retailer domain.
- ✓Report fake electronics ads to the platform where you saw them and the FTC.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Norton reported that back-to-school themed phishing attacks surged 150% in August 2024 compared to July, with fake laptop deals being the most common lure.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing.
- ✓Check the URL carefully before entering payment information and ensure it matches the official retailer domain.
- ✓Report fake electronics ads to the platform where you saw them and the FTC.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Norton reported that back-to-school themed phishing attacks surged 150% in August 2024 compared to July, with fake laptop deals being the most common lure.
Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report 2024
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
College students, Parents, High school students
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada, United Kingdom
Primary channel
Email — Back-to-school scams
Why this group is vulnerable
College students are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Norton reported that back-to-school themed phishing attacks surged 150% in August 2024 compared to July, with fake laptop deals being the most common lure.
Source notes
- Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report 2024
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about laptop deal phishing scam
How does the laptop deal phishing scam work?+
Scammers create ads on social media and search engines featuring popular student laptops at deeply discounted back-to-school prices. Clicking the ad leads to a convincing replica of Dell, Apple, or Best Buy checkout pages that capture credit card information and personal data. Victims either receive nothing, a counterfeit product, or have their payment information used for fraudulent purchases.
What are the warning signs of laptop deal phishing scam?+
Laptop deal is 50% or more below retail with no credible retailer backing Ad or email links to a domain that does not belong to the manufacturer or authorized reseller Site only accepts non-reversible payment methods like wire transfers or cryptocurrency
What should I do if I encounter laptop deal phishing scam?+
Purchase electronics only from authorized retailers or your school's official technology store with education pricing. Check the URL carefully before entering payment information and ensure it matches the official retailer domain. Report fake electronics ads to the platform where you saw them and the FTC.
Who is most at risk for laptop deal phishing scam?+
This scam primarily targets College students, Parents, High school students. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada, United Kingdom and typically appears on Email.
Is laptop deal phishing scam on the rise?+
laptop deal phishing scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA, UK. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.