New Semester, Same Scams: What Students Need to Know

The start of a new semester brings a lot of moving parts: new classes, tuition payments, financial aid, housing, jobs, textbooks, and hundreds of emails. It also creates the perfect opportunity for scammers to catch students off guard.

Scammers know students are busy and may be more likely to respond quickly when a message says “urgent,” “action required,” or “your account will be closed.”

The goal isn't to make you suspicious of every email or text. It's to know what to look for and slow down when something feels urgent or unusual.

Fake Montclair Emails and Attendance Notices

One scam to watch for is an email pretending to come from a professor, academic department, student services office, or another campus department.

The message might say you have an attendance issue, missed a required check-in, need to confirm your enrollment, or must complete a form to avoid an academic consequence. It may include a link that looks like a university login page.

The problem? That link may actually be designed to steal your NetID and password.

Watch for:

• Unexpected messages about attendance or enrollment
• Threats that you will be dropped from a class or face another consequence
• Links asking you to “verify” your account
• A sender address or website that doesn't match the university's official domain

What to do: Don't click the link. Open the official website or learning platform yourself and check your information there. If you're still unsure, contact your professor or department using contact information you find independently.

What a fake attendance email can look like

“Your Account Will Be Deactivated” Scams

Few things get your attention like a message saying your NetID account is about to be shut down.

Scammers may send emails or texts claiming that your student account, email, Wi-Fi access, or other campus services will be deactivated unless you act immediately.

They may say your password has expired, your mailbox is full, or suspicious activity was detected.

The message usually includes a link to “verify” or “restore” your account. That link may take you to a fake login page designed to steal your credentials.

Watch for:

• “Your account will be deleted today” or similar threats
• Unexpected password-expiration notices
• Links asking you to log in
• Forms (like Google) asking for your credentials
• Duo prompts you didn't initiate

What to do: Don't click the link and never approve an Duo MFA request you didn't initiate. Go directly to official portals instead.

What an account deactivation phishing email can look like

Fake Apartments and Rental Listings

Students looking for housing can be easy targets, especially when a good apartment appears at a surprisingly low price.

A scammer may copy photos from a real listing and advertise the property on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or another site. They may claim they're out of town or out of the country and can't show you the apartment.

Then comes the pressure: “Send the deposit today and I'll hold it for you.”

Once you send the money, the apartment and the person offering it may disappear.

Watch for:

• Rent significantly below similar properties
• Excuses for why you can't see the property
• Requests for money before a legitimate lease is signed
• Pressure to pay through Zelle, Venmo, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards

What to do: See the property in person before sending money. If you can't, have someone you trust visit it for you. Verify that the person you're dealing with is actually authorized to rent the property.

Read more about protecting yourself from rental scams

Money Scams: You Owe Money… or Money Is Waiting for You

Scammers may pretend to be from Red Hawk Central, Financial Aid, Housing, or another Montclair office.

They may claim you owe money and threaten to drop your classes, cancel your housing, or suspend your account unless you pay immediately.

They may also say that money is waiting for you, such as a refund, scholarship, grant, or financial aid. The message may ask you to click a link to claim it.

Watch for:

• Unexpected messages saying you owe money or have funds waiting
• Pressure to act immediately
• Requests for payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, Zelle, or Venmo
• Links asking for your university login or personal information
• Messages that threaten you or seem too good to be true

What a money scam can look like

What to do: Stop and verify. Check your student account directly through Nest. If you are still concerned, contact Red Hawk Central or the appropriate office using contact information from the official Montclair website, not information provided in the suspicious message.

Fake Student Jobs and Fake Checks

Looking for a flexible job? Scammers know it.

You may receive an email offering a remote position such as a virtual assistant, research assistant, tutor, or personal assistant. Some scams even come from compromised .edu accounts, making the offer look legitimate.

One common version involves a fake employer sending you a check. They tell you to deposit it, keep some of the money, and send the rest to a “vendor” or use it to purchase equipment or gift cards.

The check may appear to clear initially. Later, the bank discovers it is fraudulent and you can be responsible for the money you already sent.

Watch for:

• A job that sends you money before you've done any work
• Requests to deposit a check and send money back
• Requests to purchase gift cards
• An employer asking you to use your personal bank account to move money

What to do: Don't deposit the check or send money. Look for student employment through your school's official job portal or directly through a legitimate company's careers website.

Remember: Official Montclair jobs are available on Handshake.

What a fake student job scam can look like

Fake Giveaways, Textbooks, Tech, and Equipment

Scammers know students are looking for ways to save money on textbooks, laptops, musical instruments, cameras, software, and other equipment.

Some scams advertise items for sale at an unbelievably low price. Others promise a free giveaway, such as a free laptop, tablet, instrument, or other equipment.

In giveaway scams, the attacker may ask you to respond using a personal email address instead of your university email. This can make it harder for the university's security systems to detect the scam. The attacker may then ask for personal information, payment for “shipping,” or other details to claim the item.

Watch for:

• Free equipment giveaways you weren't expecting
• Requests to contact the person using a personal or non-university email address
• Requests to move the conversation away from your university email
• Prices that are much lower than everywhere else
• Requests for payment for “shipping” or other fees
• Sellers who only accept non-refundable payment methods
• Websites or social media accounts with little history or credibility

What to do: Be skeptical of unexpected giveaways and unusually cheap deals. Verify the offer before responding, and be especially cautious if someone asks you to move the conversation from your university account to a personal email address. If a deal or giveaway seems too good to be true, it probably is.

What a giveaway scam can look like

Fake Scholarships and Student Loan Relief

A message may tell you that you've been “pre-selected” for a scholarship, grant, or student loan forgiveness program.

To receive the money, the scammer may ask for a processing fee or sensitive information such as your Social Security number, bank information, or Federal Student Aid login credentials.

Watch for:

• Guaranteed scholarships or loan forgiveness
• Requests for an upfront fee
• Requests for your FSA login credentials
• Unexpected requests for your Social Security number or banking information

What to do: Don't pay to receive a scholarship or grant, and never give someone your FSA login credentials. Research the program independently before providing personal information.

How To Avoid Student Loan Forgiveness Scams

The Three Rules to Remember

You don't need to memorize every type of scam. Just remember:

When in Doubt, Report It

Not sure if an email, text, or message is a scam? Report it.

Use the Phish Alert Button (PAB) to report suspicious emails, or forward suspicious messages to phishfiles@montclair.edu for review.

Reporting suspicious messages helps us identify scams and protect the Montclair community.

One Last Thing

Scammers don't necessarily make their messages look obviously fake. Some use real university logos, convincing language, compromised .edu accounts, and information they find online.

The fact that an email looks official doesn't make it legitimate.

If something feels off, take a minute and verify it. That one minute could save you from losing money, your personal information, or access to your university account.

a request is real.