From job offers to scholarships, scams targeting students are on the rise – ABC10
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As recent high school graduates celebrate major milestones and look ahead to new jobs, college or big moves, scammers are increasingly targeting them with fraudulent offers that can lead to stolen money and compromised personal information.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost more than $16 billion to scams in 2024 — a 33% increase from the year before.
Financial experts say students and new grads are especially vulnerable. Benny Sanchez, with JPMorgan Chase, says one of the most common schemes is the scholarship scam.
“Students are scammed thinking that they are going to get a scholarship and they’re providing their personal information, their financial information to these scammers who say, ‘You have qualified,’” Sanchez said.
Sanchez said scammers often reach out via email, text or social media with fake offers from fraudulent companies, hoping to trick young people into clicking suspicious links or sharing sensitive data.
To protect yourself, experts recommend:
Other scams targeting students and recent grads include:
“When we think about technology and the evolution of AI, the internet and social media, these are the platforms students are navigating,” Sanchez said. “Unfortunately, fraudsters are also navigating those platforms to take advantage of the situation.”
If you fall victim to a scam, report it immediately to your bank, police and the Federal Trade Commission.
Also, run a credit report to check for fraudulent accounts. Monitor your credit score, as fraud can impact your ability to get loans, open credit cards or even find employment.
