Back-to-school season is an exciting time for students, parents, and educators across Oklahoma. Whether you're shopping for school supplies, paying tuition, applying for scholarships, or setting up a new laptop, there's a lot to check off the list before classes begin.
Unfortunately, scammers know this too.
Every year, cybercriminals take advantage of the rush and stress of back-to-school season by creating fake websites, phishing emails, scholarship scams, and fraudulent online stores. Their goal is simple: steal your money or personal information before you realize something is wrong.
The good news is that a few smart habits can go a long way toward protecting yourself and your family. Here's how to recognize the most common back-to-school scams and avoid becoming a victim.
Table of Contents
- Shop Carefully for School Supplies
- Watch Out for Fake Scholarship Opportunities
- Be Skeptical of Tuition Payment Requests
- Protect Your Personal Information
- Secure Your Online Accounts
- Teach Students Good Cybersecurity Habits
- What to Do if You Think You've Been Scammed
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Stay Safe This School Year with Smart Financial Habits
Shop Carefully for School Supplies
Online shopping makes preparing for the school year much easier—but it also creates opportunities for scammers.
Fake online stores often advertise incredible discounts on backpacks, laptops, calculators, and other school essentials. Once you place an order, the item either never arrives or is a cheap counterfeit.
Before making a purchase:
- Shop directly through well-known retailers whenever possible.
- Type the retailer's web address into your browser instead of clicking advertisements or links from emails.
- Be cautious of prices that seem dramatically lower than every other retailer.
- Read reviews before purchasing from unfamiliar websites.
- Use a credit card or another payment method that offers fraud protection.
If you're shopping for college supplies in Oklahoma, don't wait until the last minute. Scammers often take advantage of supply shortages and shoppers who feel pressured to buy quickly. Fraudsters use a sense of urgency to get you to act fast.
Watch Out for Fake Scholarship Opportunities
College students are frequent targets for scholarship scams.
These scams often promise "guaranteed" scholarship money or claim you've been selected for exclusive financial aid. In reality, they're simply trying to collect application fees or steal sensitive personal information.
Some warning signs include:
- Requests for upfront fees
- Guarantees that you'll receive scholarship money
- Offers that arrive unexpectedly
- Requests for your Social Security number before you've verified the organization
- High-pressure language telling you to act immediately
Legitimate scholarships rarely require payment just to apply.
If you're unsure whether a scholarship is legitimate, contact your school's financial aid office before providing any personal information.
Be Skeptical of Tuition Payment Requests
Scammers also target parents and college students by impersonating universities. You might receive an email or phone call claiming your tuition payment is overdue or that your financial aid needs immediate verification. These messages often create urgency because scammers know people panic when they think their enrollment could be affected.
If you receive an unexpected request:
- Never click links inside suspicious emails.
- Don't call phone numbers listed in the message.
- Log into your student portal directly.
- Contact your school's financial aid or bursar's office using the phone number listed on its official website.
When in doubt, verify first. A five-minute phone call could save thousands of dollars.
Protect Your Personal Information
Many back-to-school scams aren't trying to sell you anything—they're trying to steal your identity.
Personal information like your:
- Social Security number
- Banking information
- Student ID number
- Passwords
- Date of birth
Can be used to commit identity theft or financial fraud.
Never provide sensitive information because someone contacts you unexpectedly through email, text message, or social media. Instead, initiate the conversation yourself by contacting the organization directly through its official website or phone number.
Secure Your Online Accounts
Students rely on dozens of online accounts throughout the school year, including:
- School email
- Learning management systems
- Banking apps
- Student loan accounts
- Cloud storage
- Online textbooks
Unfortunately, each account is another opportunity for cybercriminals.
To better protect yourself:
- Use unique passwords for every account.
- Turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever it's available.
- Keep your devices updated with the latest software.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi for banking or financial transactions.
- Consider using a password manager to keep track of your credentials.
These small steps make it much harder for attackers to gain access to your accounts.
Teach Students Good Cybersecurity Habits
Whether your child is entering elementary school or starting college, cybersecurity is becoming just as important as physical school safety.
Parents can help by teaching students to:
- Think before clicking links.
- Avoid opening attachments from unknown senders.
- Question emails that create urgency.
- Verify requests with teachers or school administrators.
- Download apps only from trusted sources.
- Keep devices locked when not in use.
For college students living away from home for the first time, these habits become even more important since they'll be managing finances, tuition payments, and personal information on their own.
What to Do if You Think You've Been Scammed
Even careful people can fall victim to sophisticated scams.
If you believe you've shared personal information or made a fraudulent purchase:
- Contact your financial institution immediately.
- Change any passwords that may have been compromised.
- Enable multi-factor authentication if it isn't already active.
- Monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity.
- Report phishing emails to your school or employer if appropriate.
- Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit if sensitive personal information was exposed.
Acting quickly can often minimize the damage before scammers have an opportunity to misuse your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common back-to-school scams?
Common scams include fake online school supply stores, scholarship scams, phishing emails, tuition payment scams, fake student discounts, and fraudulent financial aid offers.
How can I tell if an online school supply website is legitimate?
Shop through well-known retailers whenever possible, verify the website address, read customer reviews, and be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true.
Are scholarship application fees legitimate?
Most legitimate scholarships do not require you to pay an application fee. Be cautious of organizations asking for payment before you've been awarded any funding.
What should I do if I receive an unexpected tuition payment email?
Do not click any links or provide payment information. Instead, contact your school's financial aid or billing office directly using contact information from the school's official website.
How can students protect themselves from phishing emails?
Students should avoid clicking unexpected links, verify suspicious messages directly with their school, use strong unique passwords, and enable multi-factor authentication whenever available.
Can my credit union help if I think I've been scammed?
Yes. If you believe your debit card or bank account has been compromised, contact your credit union immediately. Quick action can help prevent additional fraudulent transactions and protect your accounts.
Stay Safe This School Year with Smart Financial Habits
Back-to-school season should be about preparing for success, not recovering from fraud.
By slowing down before making purchases, verifying unexpected communications, protecting your personal information, and practicing good cybersecurity habits, Oklahoma families can avoid many of the scams that appear this time of year.
At Oklahoma Central Credit Union, we're committed to helping members protect both their finances and their personal information. Whether you're opening your first checking account before college, monitoring your debit card activity through digital banking, or simply looking for financial guidance, we're here to help.
As you prepare for the new school year, remember that staying informed is one of the best ways to stay protected.
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