With the school year under way, students across the country are taking on fresh financial duties—opening bank accounts, signing leases, applying for jobs and scholarships. Unfortunately, these milestones also attract scammers looking to steal money and personal data. The Federal Trade Commission reports that consumers under age 29 lost more than $490 million to fraud in 2025.

Online Shopping Safety

Students often shop for dorm décor, textbooks, laptops and clothing online. To avoid being duped by too‑good‑to‑be‑true offers, follow these guidelines:

• Buy from verified retailers. Stick with brands and websites you recognize. If a site is unfamiliar, search the name together with words like “scam” or “reviews” to see if others have reported problems.
• Check reviews and see items in person. On marketplace platforms, read seller ratings and, when possible, arrange to meet in a public, well‑lit location before handing over cash.
• Use secure payment methods. Credit cards provide purchase protection, while wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or peer‑to‑peer apps are difficult to recover if fraud occurs.
• Verify second‑hand listings. When buying used textbooks or equipment, confirm the seller’s reputation and ensure any required access codes are included.

Scholarship and Financial‑Aid Alerts

Scammers create fake scholarship sites that mimic legitimate programs or government agencies. Before submitting personal or financial information, verify the opportunity through your school’s financial‑aid office or the official government website. Be wary of any site that asks for a processing fee.

Job and Housing Precautions

Finding a first job or apartment is a major step, but it also opens the door to fraud. Keep these tips in mind:

• Treat unsolicited job offers with suspicion. Search for the employer on reputable job boards and on the company’s official website.
• Never pay for a job. Legitimate employers do not require upfront fees for training, equipment or applications.
• Watch for check scams. If an employer sends a check and asks you to return part of the money, wait until the check fully clears before using any funds.
• Question unusually low rent. Prices far below market value often signal a fake listing.
• Verify listings and images. Use reverse‑image search to see if photos appear on multiple sites.
• Pause before paying. Take time to confirm the address, read reviews and view the property in person.

Phishing and Impersonation Protection

Students’ inboxes are flooded with emails about campus events, tuition, registration and housing. Fraudsters may pose as university officials and create a false sense of urgency. Follow these steps to stay safe:

• Be skeptical of unexpected requests. Verify any message about tuition, financial aid or housing through official school channels before responding.
• Avoid clicking links in unsolicited messages. Instead, type the university’s web address directly into your browser.
• Check sender details carefully. Scammers often use email addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones.
• Protect login credentials. Never share passwords or one‑time passcodes and enable multi‑factor authentication whenever possible.

For additional guidance, visit Chase.com/ScamProof. By staying vigilant and following these best practices, students can protect their finances and focus on a successful academic year.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.