Why This Matters
College students are prime targets for cyber scams because of their busy schedules, financial responsibilities, and heavy reliance on email and online services. Your .edu email isn鈥檛 just for school; it鈥檚 a gateway to accounts, financial aid, and personal data, which is why hackers often disguise phishing emails as official college messages. Don鈥檛 click on suspicious links or download unexpected attachments.
- Double-check the sender鈥檚 address. A real college email won鈥檛 come from鈥�[email protected].
- If it does come from a college email, if in doubt, go directly to the source:
- SCCC has heavy-duty spam and phishing email filters, but scammers can occasionally get through. Be highly cautious of any message that demands you take quick action or asks for any banking or financial information. No one at the College will ask for that information.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing is when scammers pretend to be trusted sources like the college, professors, Campus IT, banks, employers, or popular apps. They try to trick you into clicking links, opening files, or sharing information.
Phishing can come through:
- Email
- Text messages (smishing)
- Phone calls (vishing)
- Social media or messaging apps
Common College Scams
- University / IT alerts: Emails claiming your school account will be disabled, your mailbox is over quota, or you must verify your password immediately.
- Financial aid & tuition scams: Messages about urgent FAFSA issues, tuition overpayments, refunds, or scholarships requiring immediate action.
- Job & internship scams: Fake offers that promise high pay for little work, ask for personal information, request upfront fees, or send checks to deposit.
- Textbook scams: Fraudulent listings for apartments, sublets, or cheap textbooks that require payment before viewing or delivery.
- Package & subscription scams: Fake shipping notifications or subscription renewal notices designed to trick you into clicking malicious links.
- Social media account takeovers: Messages claiming your account is locked or reported, urging immediate login.
Attackers may try to obtain:
- College login credentials
- Email and cloud storage access
- Financial or banking details
- Personal information used for identity theft
Red Flags 馃毄 Be cautious if a message:
- Creates urgency or fear, such as "Act now" or "Final notice."
- Asks for any type of financial information or to send funds: Official organizations, like colleges, student loan servicers, or the government, won鈥檛 text or DM you about setting up payments.
- Asks for passwords, verification codes, or personal details
- Comes from a suspicious or slightly misspelled email address
- Includes unexpected links or attachments
- Has spelling or grammar mistakes
- Uses generic greetings like "Dear Student."
- Asks you to keep the request secret
How to Stay Safe and Evaluate Emails and Messages
- Check the sender鈥檚 email address
- Official college emails come from the school鈥檚 domain, not public email services.
- Hover over links before clicking
- Make sure links point to legitimate websites.
- Avoid unexpected attachments
- Especially files ending in .zip, .html, .exe, or .iso.
- Verify independently
- Visit official websites directly or contact campus offices using known contact information.
- Pause before acting. Scammers rely on stress and deadlines to override good judgment.
Smart Security Habits for College Students
- Use strong, unique passwords and try a password manager! Reusing the same one for your school account, Netflix, and your bank app? That鈥檚 an invitation to cybercriminals
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all important accounts: Multifactor authentication (sometimes called two-factor authentication, 2FA, or two-step authentication) adds an extra layer of security, like a door bolt for your accounts. When MFA is on, you鈥檒l log in with your password鈥�, then take a second step, like logging in to a special app on your phone. It鈥檚 one of the easiest ways to stop hackers, even if they guess your password.
- Keep laptops, phones, and apps updated. Clicking 鈥淩emind me later鈥� on software updates is not a good habit. Those updates often fix serious security flaws. The longer you wait, the more vulnerable your laptop or phone becomes.
- Be cautious about what you share on social media
- Log out of shared or lab computers
- Avoid accessing sensitive accounts on public Wi-Fi without protection.
What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Message
- Do not click links, reply, or download attachments
- Report the message to your college鈥檚 IT or information security team
- Delete the message after reporting
What to Do If You Think You Fell for a Scam
- Change your passwords immediately
- Enable or reset multi-factor authentication
- Contact your campus IT help desk right away
- Monitor financial and school accounts for unusual activity
- If money or identity information was involved, notify your bank and consider a fraud alert
When in Doubt: Stop, Verify, Ask.
College is busy and fast-paced, which is exactly what scammers count on. Taking a few extra seconds to question unexpected messages, verify requests, and ask for help can prevent long-term consequences. When something feels off, trust your instincts and verify before you click.
