Students should be aware of phishing scams that are designed to steal their personal financial, and academic information.
Scammers often send fraudulent emails, text messages, or make phone calls to create a sense of urgency to trick recipients into providing private information. For instance, a student may receive an email that falsely claims there is a “problem with the student’s registration”. If you believe you/your student(s) have received a phishing email, report the incident to UCSB ITS.
For instructions on how to report phishing emails, please visit the Report Harassing or Unwanted Email page.
Different phishing scams that target the student population include:
Job Fraud: Fake employers offer high-paying, easy jobs but often require personal information or upfront payments.
How to protect yourself:
- Avoid unsolicited job offers, especially those with vague descriptions.
- Check out the UCSB’s Career Services webpage via the Handshake app for legitimate on- and off-campus jobs for students.
- Never send money or cash for a job or internship application.
Rental scams: Scammers advertise non-existent rental properties at unrealistically low prices and refuse to meet in person.
How to protect yourself:
- Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true.
- Verify landlords through trusted rental sites and ask for references.
- Use university-affiliated housing resources when possible.
- Check out this A.S. resource which provides a list of different legitimate leasing companies located in Isla Vista.
Financial scams: Scammers target students with financial scams designed to steal money, including fake scholarships, fraudulent tuition payment processors, deceptive textbook rental or book-buying schemes, tutoring scams, and requests for payment via gift cards.
How to protect yourself:
- Use only official university portals for tuition payments
- Double-check website URLs before entering personal or payment information.
- Avoid paying with gift cards—no legitimate institution will request them.
- Purchase textbooks through trusted sources like university bookstores or verified online retailers.
Tech support scams: Scammers pose as campus IT, Microsoft, or Apple, claiming that your computer has a problem and urging you to take immediate action
How to protect yourself:
- Campus IT will never call unexpectedly to demand remote access.
- Never grant remote access to unknown callers.
- Ignore pop-up messages claiming urgent tech support issues.
IRS impersonation scams: Fake IRS agents claim you or your parents owe a "federal student tax" and demand immediate payment via wire transfer.
How to protect yourself:
- The IRS does not call, email, or text demanding payments—official notices are always sent via mail.
- Never share your Social Security number (SSN) over the phone.
- Call the IRS directly at their official number to verify any claims.
- Report IRS scams via the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Tool.
Fake login requests: Messages asking for your university login credentials may appear legitimate but are designed to steal your information.
How to protect yourself:
- Never share your password with anyone.
- Use strong, unique passwords along with 2 step verification.
- Report any suspicious login requests to your university’s IT security team.
Other scams not exclusive to students include:
Road toll and parking ticket scams: Watch out for text messages impersonating state road toll collection agencies that attempt to get victims to reveal financial information. Scammers have also been sending fake parking violation texts, claiming the victim has unpaid fines.
How to protect yourself:
- Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited texts or emails about tolls or parking violations.
- Always verify payment requests by visiting the official website of your local toll agency or parking authority.
Public health alert scams: Scammers exploit public health breakouts by sending fraudulent messages that claim to provide urgent updates on outbreaks, diagnoses, or health alerts. These scams often contain malicious links, request sensitive medical or financial information, or demand payments for fake treatments and testing.
How to protect yourself:
- Rely on trusted medical professionals and official health organizations for information about outbreaks or diagnoses.
- If you receive an unsolicited message claiming to offer urgent health updates, contact your doctor directly to verify the update.