College students are prime scam targets. Here’s what to know

Heading off to college is an exciting milestone. Along with classes, new friendships and greater independence come something many students don’t expect: scammers looking for easy targets.

College students are often managing their own finances for the first time, signing leases, applying for credit cards, purchasing textbooks and paying tuition. Criminals know this and use convincing schemes to steal money and personal information.

Whether you’re a student or the parent of one, staying alert can help prevent an expensive lesson outside the classroom.

Scammers often pretend to be someone students trust, such as a college financial aid office, bank or government agency. An email or text message may ask students to click a link and log in with their school username and password or provide financial information. These messages can look legitimate, but they’re designed to steal sensitive information.

If you receive an unexpected request, contact the school or organization directly using a phone number or website you know is legitimate instead of clicking links in the message.

Finding affordable housing near campus can be challenging, and scammers know students are eager to secure a place to live. Be wary of rental listings with unusually low prices or landlords who…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/