Education Scams: How to Spot and Protect Against Them

The education sector provides fertile ground for scammers. Education scams have become increasingly sophisticated, with fraudsters taking advantage of students' and teachers' digital reliance and potential financial vulnerability or lack of experience in spotting scams. This lets scammers target individuals in the education sector throughout every stage of their academic journey by peddling fake diplomas, scholarship opportunities, and everything in between.

In this article, we’ll explore the most common education scams and offer tips on how to avoid falling victim.

5 Common Education Scams

1.      Diploma Mills

One of the promises that diploma mills make to consumers is that they can receive a diploma without doing hard work. These fraudulent businesses bait victims with promises of fast-tracked degrees, minimal coursework, and low tuition fees. While these degrees may look legitimate, they are often worthless, and the lack of accreditation can result in severe consequences for individuals seeking employment or further education.

Three easy tips to avoid diploma mill scams:

• Research the instructions carefully: Verify the institution's accreditation before you commit. Aggressive recruiting, flat-fee pricing for the degree and low graduation signs are red flags you should be aware of
• Beware of too-good-to-be-true offers: If an institution promises you a degree in an unrealistically short time with little to no effort or interaction, it's a scam.
• Check reviews and testimonials: Look for reviews from former students and professionals.

2.      Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams

Scholarship scams target students and their families with the false promises of securing a scholarship or financial aid – for free, obviously. Fraudsters charge unsuspecting students for “guaranteed" scholarships or they may claim that they are representatives for an organization that helps them secure financial aid.  Unfortunately, nobody can ensure that applicants will indeed receive a scholarship. Anyone who claims otherwise is a scammer.

Three tips on how to avoid scholarship scams

• Don’t pay for scholarship information: Legitimate scholarship opportunities are free to apply for. Any payment requests should be discarded and reported to the FTC and other consumer protection organizations in your area.
• Verify the source: Check the credibility of the scholarship provider through official websites and well-known educational organizations.
• Always scrutinize unsolicited scholarship offers: If you receive a scholarship offer without applying, it’s likely a scam

Read more about scholarship scams in this dedicated article:

• Beware of Scholarship Scams: Protect Yourself and Your Peers. Share These Tips with Every Student You Know

3.      Fake Online Courses and Certifications

Phony online courses or certification scams skyrocketed during stay-at-home orders, and now, with the proliferation of online learning, scammers are still lining their pockets. These scams often involve poorly designed courses that offer little to no value but come with a hefty price tag. Victims are often enticed by promises of gaining new skills or certifications that meet educational frameworks and boost career prospects.

How can you avoid online certification scams:

• Research the course provider carefully: Check the reputation, read reviews, and verify the credentials of potential instructors. Any unrealistic promises or poor website quality should make you think twice.
• Look for Accreditation: Ensure the course is accredited by a recognized institution. If you can’t verify any of the credentials, walk away.
• Ask for a Syllabus: Legitimate online courses should be able to provide you with a detailed curriculum. If the provider refuses to give you this information or you’re unable to find a clear description on the platform, it’s a clear sign of a scam.

4.      Student Loan Scams

Student loan scams prey on students or other individuals struggling with student debt. Scammers may offer you lower interest rates or even claim to enlist you in student loan forgiveness programs for a fee, which can leave victims in an even worse financial situation.

Tips to help you tackle student loan scams:

• Avoid unsolicited student loan forgiveness correspondence or ads: Don’t fall for offers that sound too good to be true, contain typos, or ask for sensitive data are scams.
• Never pay upfront fees: Use only legitimate loan servicers or forgiveness programs that will never ask you to pay upfront for assistance.
• Take your time: Don’t feel pressured to sign up to student loan debt relief programs without verifying offers with your loan servicer  

Read more about student loan scams in these dedicated articles:

• Loan Scams Uncovered. Protect Your Identity and Money
• FTC warns of student loan forgiveness scams. Here’s how you protect your identity and money

5.      Phishing Scams

Phishing scams can take place via phone, text, email or instant messaging apps. Scammers send you fraudulent messages that appear to come from educational or financial aid organizations to steal your data, including login information, Social Security Number and financial data to take over accounts and commit identity theft.

How to Avoid:

• Scrutinize all unsolicited correspondence: Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown senders.
• Investigate claims: If an email appears suspicious, contact the institution directly using the contact information on the official website. Don’t use contact details in the message.
• Use security software: Install a security solution that detects and blocks phishing attempts and malware.

How Bitdefender Can Help

Avoiding education scams requires more than just a vigilant eye—it also means having strong cybersecurity solutions in place to protect your identity and finances. Bitdefender offers powerful tools and security solutions to help students, parents, and educational institutions guard against scams and online threats.

1. Bitdefender Scamio: Your Free AI-powered Scam Detector

Scamio is designed to help you spot scams before they can cause you harm. It’s available on  Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and your web browser. You can basically take it with you wherever you go. Scamio helps by analyzing suspicious messages, emails, and websites, giving you real-time advice on whether something could be a scam. Whether you're unsure about a scholarship offer or a financial aid email, Scamio can be your go-to resource for quick scam detection.  You can also help others stay safe by sharing Scamio with them in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Australia, and the UK.

2. Advanced Security Solutions to Block Sophisticated Threats

Bitdefender’s security solutions are equipped with award-winning technology that detects and blocks even the most sophisticated threats, from phishing to ransomware. Our cybersecurity software uses advanced technologies like AI-driven threat detection and real-time monitoring to identify and neutralize phishing emails, malicious websites, and ransomware attacks before they can do harm.

• Phishing/ Scam Protection: Bitdefender automatically blocks phishing attempts and alerts you when an email or website tries to steal personal information like Social Security Numbers, passwords, or bank details.
• Ransomware Prevention: Bitdefender’s multi-layered defense system keeps ransomware at bay, protecting your important documents and files from being encrypted and held for ransom.
• Real-Time Threat Detection: Bitdefender’s real-time scanning technology constantly monitors for new and emerging threats, giving you peace of mind as you browse educational websites or manage student loan applications online.

3. Comprehensive Protection for All Devices

Whether you’re using a laptop, tablet, or smartphone for your studies, Bitdefender ensures that all your devices are protected. With security suites that include antivirus, VPN, and identity protection, Bitdefender covers every aspect of your digital life, so you don’t have to worry about falling victim to online scams.

Get everything you need to secure your digital life with Bitdefender Premium Security. 

FAQs About Education Scams

1. What should I do if I think I’ve been scammed by a diploma mill?
If you suspect you’ve been scammed, report the institution to the authorities in your area, such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Better Business Bureau. If you’ve lost money, you may want to contact your financial institution and seek legal advice.

2. Are there any signs to watch out for in scholarship scams?
Yes! Legitimate scholarships are always free to apply for. A scholarship that asks for an application fee is most likely a scam.

3. How can I ensure that an online course is legitimate?
Start by researching the course provider. Look for reviews, check accreditations and credentials for your instructors.  

4. How can I avoid student loan scams?
Stick with reputable sources like your loan servicer’s official website. Be wary of any organization offering debt relief or loan forgiveness in exchange for upfront fees.

5. How do I know if an email is a phishing scam?
Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency, asking for immediate action and sensitive information such as passwords, SSNs and financial data. Look for misspelled words or suspicious links and any other red flags. Better yet, ask Bitdefender Scamio for a second option whenever you’re unsure.