Scammers are getting creative — and bold. Whether it's fake job offers, bogus school supply deals or counterfeit football tickets, their goal is the same: to steal your money or personal info.

Back-to-School Scams

As families gear up for the new school year, scammers target parents and students with:

• Too-good-to-be-true deals on laptops, tablets and supplies.
• Phony scholarship offers asking for “application fees.”
• Fake school emails requesting sensitive info or payments.

Football Ticket Scams

Excited for game day? So are scammers.

• They sell fake tickets on sketchy resale sites or social media.
• You might get a QR code that doesn’t work at the gate.
• Some even impersonate official ticket vendors.

Job Scams

Scammers pose as recruiters offering remote jobs with great pay — but it’s all a trap.

• They ask for personal details or upfront fees.
• Sometimes, they send fake checks and ask you to “reimburse” them.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Requests for payment or banking info.
• Vague descriptions, poor grammar or interviews via chat only.
• Sketchy email addresses (think Gmail, not company domains).
• Pressure to act fast or “secure your spot.”

Smart Moves

• Verify companies, recruiters and sellers on LinkedIn or official websites.
• Use trusted platforms for purchases — especially tickets.
• Never share sensitive info until you’re sure it’s legit.
• Don’t pay for a job — real employers don’t charge you.

How to Report

For scams that arrive via email, please send a report to phishing@mailbox.sc.edu or click on the “report phishing” button in Outlook.

For scams that arrive via SMS or some other texting app on your phone (e.g., messages, WhatsApp, etc), please “block and report” within the app itself.

For those who have fallen for a scam, please file a police report.

Bottom Line

If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your instincts — and double-check. Stay alert not just for yourself, but for your loved ones, especially kids, teens and older adults who may be more vulnerable