How to Spot a Fraudulent Email: A Student’s Guide to Protecting Your Money

As a student, you may receive emails or messages promising scholarships, financial aid, or job offers. But some of these could be scams designed to steal your money or personal information. Here’s how to stay safe: 

1. Check the sender’s email address – Scammers often use email addresses that look real but have small changes, like extra numbers or misspelled words. Always verify the sender before responding. 
2. Watch out for grammar and spelling mistakes – Legitimate institutions usually proofread their emails. If you spot poor grammar or unusual phrasing, it could be a scam. 
3. Beware of urgent or threatening messages – Fraudsters try to scare you into acting quickly by saying your bank account, student loan, or scholarship is at risk. Take a moment to verify before panicking. 
4. Don’t click on unknown links – Scammers use fake links to trick you into entering your banking details. Hover over links to see the real website address before clicking. 
5. Look for generic greetings – If an email starts with “Dear Customer” instead of your name, it might not be from a legitimate source. Banks and official organizations usually personalize their messages. 
6. Check for branding inconsistencies – If a message claims to be from your bank but the logo, colors, or font look different from official emails, it might be fake. 
7. Never share personal or banking details – Legitimate banks and financial institutions will never ask for your PIN, password, or Social Security number via email or text. 
8. Inspect attachments carefully – If an email contains an unexpected attachment, don’t open it. It could contain malware that steals your financial data. 
9. Verify through official sources – If you receive a suspicious message, contact the institution directly using the official phone number or website, not the contact details in the email. 

Be cautious of offers that sound too good to be true – Emails promising free money, student loan forgiveness, or job offers that pay too well with little effort are often scams. 

By staying alert and following these tips, you can protect yourself from online fraud and keep your finances safe. Always think before you click!