back-to-school shopping scams:Why Scammers Love the Beginning of School
As the back-to-school rush starts, parents and kids go to online stores to find excellent prices. Each list has new bags, laptops, clothes, and school supplies on it. It’s a good time, but it’s also a tough time. Scammers know this extremely well and manipulate the sense of urgency to get what they want. “Exclusive offers” suddenly fill up inboxes, and social media adverts indicate you can get half off electronics or free shipping on supplies.
In the last ten years, the phrase “back-to-school shopping scams” has become more widespread. Cybercriminals love this time of year since many individuals want to buy things but don’t have the time to do so. People are busy, want to save money, and are attempting to keep track of their money. People can easily cheat and get away with it because of that mix.
The move to buying school supplies online
Families used to have to wait in line at stores to get sales flyers. More than half of all school supply shopping is now done online. That change has made it easier to buy products in certain ways, but it has also made it easier to get into trouble. A parent might trust a website they don’t know because it has a logo from a well-known company on it. Kids who use Instagram might click on an ad for a stylish backpack without even looking at the business.
Scammers are using phony customer reviews, nice-looking websites, and checkout pages that look real more and more to obtain your money for back-to-school shopping. This is because we rely on technology so much. People don’t realize it until they can’t find their money or their stuff doesn’t show up.
Scams that happen a lot when you go back to school
The worst aspect is that there are a lot of various kinds of frauds. Most of the time, it’s not easy to find. Some stores provide fake discounts to get people to buy. Some people employ phishing to get credit card numbers. Some of them even lure kids into giving out personal information in exchange for false scholarships.
If parents and kids know about the different types of back-to-school shopping scams, they can recognize them more quickly. It’s not about being afraid; it’s about noticing trends. People who know what’s out there are more inclined to protect their money and their identities.
If you bought a new laptop now, it would cost a lot less. You can’t say no to this, can you? That’s how fraudulent web retailers get customers to buy things. These sites resemble like real stores, but they go away once you buy something. Some of them even send out fake goods that break after a few weeks.
A lot of the time, these tactics work on parents who are getting their kids ready for school. People who sell things to people who are getting ready for school are crooks. People sometimes remark something like “only today” or “only a few left.” People make terrible decisions because they think they have to act quickly. They don’t figure it out until it’s too late.
Emails that solicit parents and kids for money
Sending a bogus email is another common trick. These emails feature logos and order confirmations that make it look like they came from well-known stores. They advise people to “track their package” or “confirm payment details” by clicking on a link on a website.
If you click on those links, you could get spyware or have your identity stolen. These phishing emails come at the worst time, just as individuals are getting ready for school. People who are waiting for more than one package don’t think twice about clicking. That’s how consumers don’t see when frauds for back-to-school shopping spread.
You may now purchase and sell things on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. There are a lot of bogus stores mixed in with real ones, though. Scammers make fake accounts and post adverts that are meant to get select people to buy something. After that, they vanish when they start getting orders. These pages frequently feature a lot of phony reviews, followers, and stock photographs.
Teenagers are more likely to get hurt here. They might not know how to tell if an ad is real or not. That means that scammers can use social media to offer cheap shoes, backpacks, and other things for back-to-school shopping.
Fake school supplies and tools
Not all scams involve money that disappears. You can get a bogus item from time to time. There are a lot of fake products for sale online, like fake laptops and calculators. They may look real, but they aren’t safe for kids because they usually don’t have safety certificates.
Some parents may assume they’re saving money, but they don’t know that feeding their kids harmful things puts them in danger. People who fall for back-to-school shopping scams often buy fake products and don’t know they’ve been duped until later.
Promises of financial aid and scholarships that aren’t true
Some scammers desire to get an education for less money. Every year, fake scholarship offers aim to entice teens to pay “application fees” or give them other personal information. These frauds prey on people’s dreams, especially families who are having trouble paying for school and other things.
These kinds of plans are bad for a number of reasons. They can convince people to steal their money and identities. People don’t talk about this kind of back-to-school shopping scam as often, but it’s particularly bad because it hurts kids who are going through a really important time in their life.
Deals you find online can make it easy for someone to steal your identity.
The biggest risk isn’t always losing money right away; it could also be what occurs after that. A lot of the time, fake websites want your credit card numbers, names, and addresses. People sell this information on the dark web, which can lead to identity theft that lasts a long time.
It could take a long time for people who get hurt to realize it. People could exploit a child’s Social Security number to make false accounts. Parents often get bills in the mail that they weren’t anticipating. One of the worst things that may happen because of back-to-school shopping scams is having your identity stolen, and there is no way to fix it.
How to avoid being ripped off when you buy school supplies
Another big problem is fake payments. Some scammers get people’s credit card information at the register, while others trick people into paying with dangerous methods like wire transfers. It’s quite hard to get the money back once it’s gone.
Digital proof is left behind when people commit payment fraud during back-to-school buying schemes, which makes it different from other types of crime. It’s challenging for families to deal with these traces because banks and credit card companies frequently take months to look into them.
Seeing warning signs of danger before you click “Buy.” How can people keep safe? First, take close attention to the URLs. Some fake websites use brand names that are spelled wrong or domains that end in strange ways. Second, check for payment symbols that look like a padlock or something else tt looks like it. Last but not least, go around the stores before you buy.
Being careful might seem boring, but it stops you from spending money and getting stressed. The best way to prevent getting scammed when you go back to school is to understand how to spot warning flags, especially when an offer appears too good to be true.
For example, a parent bought school uniforms from a website that advertised they would get a 70% off. The clothes never showed up, and a few days later the website went down. Another family bought their teen a “discounted” laptop, but it didn’t work and they couldn’t send it back.
These kinds of stories show how much money people spend on school supplies. It’s not just about the money; it’s also about the time that was wasted, the anger that was felt, and the trust that was lost.
How to shop safely for kids and parents
It’s a wonderful idea to do activities that are helpful. Credit cards are safer than debit cards because they do a better job of protecting you from fraud. You should only buy anything from websites or marketplaces that you know you can trust. Don’t agree to things that make you feel like you have to do them by employing countdown timers.
The most important thing is to show children how to be safe online. Students should know how to question adverts and not give out their private information. You are less likely to fall for back-to-school shopping scams if you know about them.
Schools should give parents safety instructions during orientation to help keep their kids safe. Local news stations and clubs in the neighborhood can help families find out about the latest frauds. A simple email or flier can make a big effect.
As more individuals learn about scammers, they lose their power. To stop back-to-school shopping scams, people need to be careful and work together to communicate what they know. When more people know, it’s tougher for crooks to get away with things.
Last Thoughts: How to Make Smart Choices When Buying School Supplies
You don’t have to worry about going back to school. There will always be scams, but families are safer when they know about them. The safest thing to do is to keep calm, do some research before you buy, and trust your gut when something doesn’t feel right.
Back-to-school shopping scams succeed because they make you feel stressed and confused. When families buy, they can help kids feel better about going to school by being gentle and careful.
Follow us on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn for more cybersecurity news and updates. Stay connected on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram as well. At Hoplon Infosec, we’re committed to securing your digital world.
