Back to school season is a busy time for students and families. Between shopping for supplies, paying tuition, applying for financial aid, and getting ready for a new school year, there are plenty of legitimate emails, texts, calls, and online purchases competing for your attention.

Scammers know that, too.

Fraudsters may impersonate schools, scholarship organizations, retailers, employers, or even people you know to steal money and personal information. New technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), can also make some scams more convincing.

Before the school year gets into full swing, here are five back to school scams students and families should know about.

1. Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams

College is expensive, which can make an unexpected scholarship or financial aid offer especially appealing.

Be cautious if someone contacts you claiming you’ve been selected for a scholarship you never applied for or asks you to pay a fee to receive an award.

Scammers may also offer to complete financial aid paperwork for a fee or ask for sensitive information such as your FSA ID, Social Security number, or financial account information.

How to protect yourself:

• Never pay an upfront fee to receive a scholarship.
• Don’t share your FSA ID with anyone.
• Be skeptical of scholarships that are “guaranteed.”
• Verify financial aid information through your school’s financial aid office or official government resources.
• Remember that completing and submitting the FAFSA is free.

2. Fake Tuition and School Payment Requests

Imagine getting a call saying your student’s tuition payment didn’t go through and their classes will be dropped unless you pay immediately.

That sense of urgency is exactly what scammers want.

Fraudsters may impersonate a college’s billing, financial aid, or other school office and demand immediate payment. Caller ID isn’t proof that the call is legitimate because phone numbers can be spoofed.

How to protect yourself:

• Don’t provide payment information to an unexpected caller.
• Don’t let threats or deadlines pressure you into making an immediate payment.
• Log in to the school’s official student portal to verify any balance.
• Contact the school directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate.

3. Phishing Emails and Fake School Portals

Students and parents receive plenty of emails at the beginning of a school year, which gives phishing attempts an opportunity to blend in.

A message might claim there’s a problem with your class schedule, student account, financial aid, password, or tuition payment and direct you to a link.

The website may look like a real school login page, but entering your username and password could give that information directly to a scammer.

How to protect yourself:

• Avoid clicking unexpected links in emails or text messages.
• Go directly to the school’s official website or app instead.
• Check the sender’s email address carefully.
• Be suspicious of messages requesting passwords, financial information, or other sensitive information.
• When in doubt, contact the school directly.

4. Fake Back to School Shopping Deals

Laptops, tablets, textbooks, clothes, dorm supplies, and other back to school purchases can add up quickly. A deeply discounted deal on social media or an unfamiliar website might look like a great way to save money.

But scammers can create fake online stores, advertisements, and websites designed to collect payment information or sell products that never arrive.

How to protect yourself:

• Research unfamiliar retailers before making a purchase.
• Be cautious when a price seems unusually low.
• Instead of clicking an ad, search for the retailer’s official website yourself.
• Review return and refund policies before buying.
• Monitor your accounts regularly for transactions you don’t recognize.

5. AI Powered Impersonation Scams

Artificial intelligence is making it easier to create convincing messages, images, videos, and even voices.

A scammer may pretend to be a student, family member, teacher, school employee, or another trusted person and create an urgent reason for you to send money or provide information.

You might receive a call that sounds like someone you know saying they’ve lost their phone, need money for an emergency, or need help paying an unexpected school expense.

Don’t assume a familiar sounding voice means the request is legitimate.

How to protect yourself:

• Slow down when someone unexpectedly asks for money or sensitive information.
• Hang up and contact the person directly using a phone number you already have.
• Ask a question that only the real person would be likely to answer.
• Be especially cautious when you’re told the situation is an emergency or must be kept secret.
• Never send money simply because someone is pressuring you to act immediately.

What to Do If You Think You’ve Been Scammed

If you believe you’ve provided personal or financial information to a scammer, act quickly.

Contact your financial institution, review your accounts for suspicious activity, change passwords that may have been compromised, and report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If a scam involves a school account or login, contact the school directly and let them know what happened.

Michigan United Credit Union Is Here to Help

Back to school season should be about preparing students for a successful year, not worrying about scammers.

One of the simplest ways to protect yourself is to slow down and verify. Don’t let an unexpected message, phone call, payment request, or limited time offer pressure you into making a quick financial decision.

If you believe your Michigan United Credit Union account or financial information has been compromised, contact us as soon as possible. Our team is here to help you protect your accounts and answer your questions.