1. 🎒 Fake School Supply and Textbook Scams
How it works: Scammers create fake online stores offering heavily discounted textbooks, calculators, or tech gear. After payment is made, nothing arrives — or worse, malware gets delivered via a fake download link.
Red flags: Too-good-to-be-true pricing, sketchy websites, payment via crypto or gift cards.
Stay safe tips: Buy from trusted vendors, use credit cards, check reviews and HTTPS security.
2. 💰 Fake Scholarship and Grant Offers
How it works: Scammers email or DM students with “pre-approved scholarships” but require a payment or sensitive info to proceed.
Red flags: “Guaranteed” awards, payment requests, and no official web presence.
Stay safe tips: Use trusted platforms like Fastweb, avoid sharing personal data, and verify with your school.
3. 💻 Phony Tech Support and Login Scams
How it works: Emails impersonate school IT departments asking students to verify accounts or install updates.
Red flags: Urgent messages, odd sender addresses, and unknown links.
Stay safe tips: Verify with IT directly, never download unsolicited files, and enable MFA.
🧑🏫 Tips for Parents and Educators
- Talk openly about online safety
- Install security software on all devices
- Encourage kids to report strange behavior online
- Monitor digital activity and set healthy rules
📚 Student Cyber Hygiene Checklist
- Use strong, unique passwords
- Enable multifactor authentication
- Don’t overshare personal info
- Update devices regularly
- Always log out of shared accounts
What we understand from this article is that some serious responsibility falls on people in school and their parents. They are unfortunately a serious risk group due to their emotional vulnerability. So, be careful. Pay attention to details. And most importantly, stay safe.
