Scammers love to target high school graduates. Here's what parents need to know.

Scammers love to target high school graduates. Here's what parents need to know.

Spring is supposed to be a joyous time for high school seniors as they await college acceptance letters and plan graduation parties. The last thing on their minds-or, rather, the last thing that should be on their minds-is a scam sitting in their mailbox or inbox.

Unfortunately, this season of change and intense emotions provides an opening for scammers. PeopleFinders shares some common ways that incoming college freshmen get scammed - and, perhaps more importantly, what you need to know to protect yourself and fight back against fraud.

6 Methods Fraudsters Employ to Scam High School Seniors

A common misconception exists that younger people are less susceptible to scams than seniors. As it turns out, that's not entirely true.

Although young folks are often perceived as more tech-savvy than their parents and grandparents, they can still end up falling victim to the sophisticated methods that modern scammers use. In fact, recent Federal Trade Commission data indicates that adults aged 18-59 are 34% more likely to become victims of scams.

Each age group has unique financial pressure points that scammers know how to exploit. Below, PeopleFinders takes a closer look at six potential weaknesses for college-aged individuals. If you're a recent grad, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for scam tactics like the following:

1. Fake scholarship and financial aid offers

As college expenses continue to soar, incoming freshmen are eager to get financial help whenever and wherever possible. Scammers know this and routinely send fake offers to students in exchange for personal information that can then be used to gain access to bank accounts.

In other cases, bogus scholarship and financial aid offers may ask students to provide a small upfront fee, sometimes in the form of gift cards, to cover application costs.

2. Housing application scams

In many people's minds, living in an on-campus dorm is synonymous with the college experience itself. Because the demand for student housing exceeds the supply, high schoolers must run the gauntlet to secure a dorm room.

This provides scammers with an avenue to target housing-needy students. They might send fake housing applications that request sensitive information or request small deposits to secure limited campus living spaces that don't actually exist.

3. Nonexistent internships and jobs

Another pressure point for high school and college students is the need for relevant internships. Undergraduates, especially, are under pressure to obtain internships so they can get good-paying jobs after graduation. Many college students are also on the hunt for part-time jobs that work with their busy academic schedules.

These conditions give rise to specific types of job scams that have affected roughly one-third of the U.S. population. The majority of people who fall victim to job scams also report losing money in the process.

4. Loan forgiveness scams

The stranglehold that student loan debt has on the U.S. (over $1.8 trillion in 2024) leads many borrowers to feel desperate. Scammers know all too well how eager students are to lower their payments, as shown in a 2024 scheme that stole $20.3 million from consumers.

5. Fraudulent claims of unpaid tuition

"Urgent! Enrollment will be canceled IMMEDIATELY if the student does not pay tuition upon receipt of this letter! Call TODAY to restore credits!"

Countless students, including incoming freshmen, receive scam letters worded quite similarly. Adept scammers can recreate school letterhead and convince students to hand over sensitive financial information.

6. Diploma mills

Instead of paying University X $50,000 (or much more) over four years, why not pay Diploma Mill University $1,000 for the same degree you can get in just six weeks?

Without knowing how diploma mills operate, that deal probably seems like a no-brainer. In reality, though, "students" of these non-accredited "educational institutions" end up paying their hard-earned money for a degree that isn't worth the paper on which it's printed.

Accreditation mills only add to the scam by bestowing official-looking-but fake-credentials to diploma mills. If a deal seems too good to be true, it likely is.

Protecting Yourself: How to Avoid College Scams

Now that you know what you're up against, you can better understand the ways to fight back against college-related scams:

1. Don't pay upfront fees

While most college applications cost money, the fees are almost never more than $100. Legitimate scholarships will not ask applicants for money. Additionally, FAFSA (federal student aid) forms are free to fill out.

2. Don't give out your Social Security number or FSA ID

If a student loan servicing company you've never heard of asks you to provide sensitive information, it's a good idea to Google the organization before doing anything else. Similarly, you should not give out your federal student aid ID to anyone other than the Department of Education.

3. Verify the identities of people who contact you

Getting an unexpected phone call from your college warning you of catastrophic consequences for not sending over money is a commonly used tactic by scammers. Using a reverse phone lookup tool can help you identify illegitimate communications.

4. Report suspected fraud to authorities

After protecting yourself and your finances, report any suspicious interactions to the authorities. The FTC provides an intuitive fraud reporting tool, as does the federal Department of Justice. Don't forget to contact your local police force.

Protect Your Future this Graduation Season

Graduating from high school, turning 18, and applying to colleges might be your first taste of the real world. Unfortunately, the real world is full of scammers and bad actors who care about nothing besides easy money.

A healthy dose of skepticism and vigilance will serve you well as you navigate adulthood. The right digital tools, like a people finder, are also crucial for keeping you and your wallet safe. And remember: A good rule of thumb is, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is."

This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Copyright 2026 Stacker Media, LLC

This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 9:00 AM.