Back-To-School Safety: Protect Your Family (and Your Info) From Fraudsters
9/2/2025 4:00:47 AM
As students and their caregivers enjoy the last days of summer recess, they are simultaneously beginning preparations for the inevitable first day of school. Similarly, fraudsters are also hard at work, hoping to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals and gain access to their personal and financial information.
Why Back-to-School Season Is Prime Time for Scammers
Scammers thrive during times of chaos, uncertainty, and in the whirlwind of busy seasons, and the “back-to-school” season is no exception. Here are a few of the most common “back-to-school” schemes and scams fraudsters are utilizing today along with tips on how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Common Back-to-School Scams to Watch Out For
Shopping Scams:
You may be on the hunt for a new backpack or laptop, but without following basic online shopping safety tips, you could be handing over your financial data to fraudsters. Offers containing discounts on school supplies or technology are sent via email or advertised through a fake website. Clicking on suspicious links or making a purchase through these fraudulent websites will certainly put payment methods and personal information at risk. The purchased items never arrive, you’re out the money, and your payment methods and other financial details are compromised.
Tip:
A discount is never worth compromising personal or financial information. When possible, shop in store or take advantage of store pick-up options from a trusted local retailer. If you’re shopping online, stick to well-known retailers. Look at the web address to ensure you are actually on their site (fraudsters love to use very subtly different URLs!), ensure their websites are secure or confirm that you’re using the most recent version of the app from the app store. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Student Tax Scam:
Scammers contact college bound students posing as IRS agents and inform them that they haven’t paid the “student tax.” If a payment is not made immediately, the fraudsters threaten that the student won’t be allowed to attend school or may even face jail time.
Tip:
A “student tax” doesn’t exist. Comparable to other IRS related scams, the IRS will never contact a taxpayer via phone call or request funds through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer.
Student Loan Forgiveness Scam:
Fraudsters request an upfront fee or personal information to begin the process of reducing or eliminating student loan debt. Once they have obtained the fee or the personal information, they often disappear without rendering any services.
Tip:
Loan forgiveness information should be obtained directly from the loan servicer. Be sure to use contact methods provided on statements or directly through the servicer’s secure payment portal. If someone calls you, tell them that you’ll call them back at the published contact number. An actual loan servicer will welcome this; if they hesitate or pressure you, it’s a sure sign of a scam.
Tuition Fee Scams:
Scammers may impersonate school financial officials and contact parents, guardians, or students to demand immediate payment for tuition. They claim there is an outstanding balance requiring attention and threaten that the student will not be allowed to attend classes or extracurricular activities without immediate payment.
Tip:
Contact your school’s administration or financial aid office directly for information on outstanding tuition or other fees. Be sure to receive an invoice noting all balances and request a receipt after payment is provided. Retain all documents for your records.
Tech Support Scams:
Fraudsters can impersonate tech support representatives and convince parents or guardians that their student’s laptop is infected with viruses, malware, or other harmful cyber threats. They often demand hefty upfront payments and promise to remove the malicious software, however, once payment is received no services are provided. Whether you’re dealing with school portals, personal laptops, or shared networks, safeguarding your devices is key to effective student data protection.
Tip:
Be skeptical of tech support calls, especially those that are unsolicited. If the device in question belongs to a school district, contact them directly to discuss repair options for hardware or software. If the device in question is a personal device, use contact methods listed on the device brand’s official website for technical assistance. Never give remote access to someone you’re unfamiliar with as this may further compromise the device.
How to Share Back-to-School Photos: Social Media Safety Tips for Parents
As you send your little ones (or not so little ones) off to their first day of school, review the tips below and ensure you’re safely sharing those adorable first day of school pictures on social media.
Don’t:
- Include details on handheld signs such as the town, school name, teacher’s name, or specific details about your child (grade, age, favorite food, favorite hobbies, favorite colors, etc.)
- Post images with identifying information in the background (i.e. house numbers, street signs, vehicle license plates, etc.).
- Share details or photos relating to specific bus stops, playgrounds, other locations that could give away information about your child’s school location, regular route to school, or your home address.
Do:
- Utilize privacy settings on all social media sites
- Review social media friends and followers regularly to ensure that profiles you interact with are legitimate
- Remember that photos can still be easily saved and shared by others even if your social media pages are private
Protect Your Family with These Digital Safety Tips
As students rely more heavily on digital devices and online learning tools, implementing strong cybersecurity for students is essential to prevent fraud, identity theft, and data breaches. In addition to avoiding scams, families can reduce risk by strengthening cybersecurity habits during the school year:
- Educate students about phishing emails and suspicious links
- Use strong, unique passwords for school portals and email accounts
- Install reputable antivirus and parental control software
- Regularly review bank accounts and credit reports for unauthorized activity
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
If you believe your financial information has been compromised or you suspect fraudulent activity, act quickly. Contact your bank, freeze your credit if needed, and report the scam to the FTC. Kearny Bank clients can also visit our Security Center for help with identifying and addressing suspicious activity.
Kearny Bank’s Commitment to Your Family’s Financial Security
At Kearny Bank, we believe in rewarding academic success and promoting financial awareness. That’s why students (K–12) with an existing or new Kid’s Club account can earn $1 for every A on their report card through our “Pays for A’s” program. Visit your local branch or explore our website to learn more.
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Christina Cassese
Christina Cassese is an Assistant Vice President and the Enhanced Due Diligence Supervisor for Kearny Bank’s AML/CFT department. Christina and her team are responsible for enhanced due diligence (EDD) reviews of customers that present higher AML/CFT & sanctions risk. She has 10 years of banking experience and has been with Kearny Bank since 2015. Christina earned her bachelor’s in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is a member of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.