🗓️ February 27,2026

Asha Campbell 

Howard students, do you know the steps you can take to avoid scams? Every day, scammers come up with new techniques to try to scam you. Be vigilant about who you are giving your information to. Don’t trust links from untrusted sources. A common tactic scammers use is getting your information through public WIFI services. For example, at an airport is where this is most common. So when you are connected to these WIFI services, be sure to be extra mindful of what you are logging into. Also, be sure that the websites you are logging into are encrypted to ensure your information's safety. 

Untrusted Links 

Another tactic that scammers use, which might seem obvious to most, is trying to get you through promotional emails or posing as a trusted company. If you get emails with links that you are not expecting or that aren’t from a trusted individual, please do not open them. Ensure that you have separate passcodes for every website. This is so that in the event that your information does get stolen, they don’t have the information to access all of your accounts. Scammers also use tactics such as text messages saying ‘you have a UPS package’. Another common one that they will use to try to get you is ‘you have an unpaid PayPal balance’.  Please be vigilant and don’t let them trick you.

Fake Job Offers 

Additionally, a tactic that scammers use to steal your identity is coming up with fake job offers. As a college student seeking jobs/internships, you have to be careful to do all of your research. Scammers will post on job sites and email you about a job offer that may seem too good to be true. They tend to pose it as a ‘background check’. However, they are just trying to gain as much information from you as possible. The scam to look out for is the IDMe scam. If an employer ever asks to log in to your id me account, don’t do it; it’s a scam. 

Action Items: 

• Research internet safety 

• Create safe passwords 

• Lock your information so that it’s not accessible to hackers 

• Don’t trust people you don’t know online 

• Research before taking steps that could be detrimental