As students and parents prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, scammers are taking advantage of the increased demand for scholarships, financial aid, laptops and other educational resources.
In August 2026, cybersecurity researchers reported a wave of back-to-school scam campaigns targeting students, parents and educators with fake education grants, scholarship offers, Pell Grant messages, free laptops and other seemingly attractive deals. Some of these campaigns were distributed through text messages and email.
These scams can appear convincing because they often use familiar education-related terms and create a sense of urgency.
In this guide, we’ll explain how back-to-school scams work, how to recognize fake scholarship and grant offers, what to look for in free laptop promotions, and what to do if you have already interacted with a suspicious message.
What Are Back-to-School Scams?
Back-to-school scams are fraudulent messages, websites, advertisements or offers designed to take advantage of people preparing for a new academic year.
Scammers may advertise:
- Fake scholarships
- Fake education grants
- Fake Pell Grant payments
- Free laptops
- Free tablets
- Student discounts
- Tuition assistance
- Financial-aid services
- School supply giveaways
- Discounted educational technology
- AI tools for students
The scam may arrive through email, SMS, social media, messaging apps or an online advertisement.
The ultimate goal can be to obtain money, personal information, account credentials or payment details.
Fake Scholarship Scams
Scholarships are an attractive target because students and families are often searching for ways to reduce education expenses.
A fraudulent scholarship message may say that you have been selected for an award even though you never entered a scholarship competition.
Other common claims include:
- “You have been selected for a scholarship.”
- “Your scholarship is guaranteed.”
- “Claim your award today.”
- “You have been chosen as a finalist.”
- “Pay a small processing fee to receive your scholarship.”
The Federal Trade Commission warns that scholarship and financial-aid scams can attempt to steal money or personal information. It also advises students not to pay to apply for a scholarship.
Warning Signs of a Fake Scholarship
Be cautious when a scholarship provider:
- Guarantees that you will receive money.
- Contacts you unexpectedly.
- Says you won a scholarship you never entered.
- Requests an upfront payment.
- Asks for your bank or credit-card information simply to “reserve” an award.
- Pressures you to make an immediate decision.
- Refuses to provide clear information about the organization.
A legitimate scholarship opportunity should provide enough information for you to research the organization independently.
Fake Education Grant Scams
Education grants are another common lure during back-to-school season.
In 2026, researchers observed scam messages promising thousands of dollars in supposed education grants. Some messages claimed recipients had been selected and needed to act quickly before the offer expired.
The FTC also warns consumers about government grant scams in which criminals claim that people qualify for free government money.
A suspicious grant message might say:
“You have been approved for a $7,000 education grant.”
It may then provide a link asking you to verify your identity or claim the money.
How Grant Scams Work
The scammer may ask you to provide:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone number
- Identification information
- Bank account information
- Payment-card details
- Online account credentials
Some scammers may also request a supposed processing, registration or release fee.
According to Grants.gov, the federal government does not award grants to individuals who have not submitted an application, and federal grant applications do not require a fee.
For U.S. readers, the official Grants.gov website is a useful place to verify federal grant information.
Fake Pell Grant Messages
Pell Grants are legitimate federal student-aid programs, which makes the name useful to scammers trying to make fraudulent messages appear credible.
Recent 2026 scam campaigns have included messages claiming that recipients’ Pell Grants were about to expire and urging them to click a link to claim the supposed funds.
If you receive an unexpected message about a Pell Grant, don’t click the included link.
Instead, independently access the official Federal Student Aid website and check your student-aid information there.
You can also contact your school’s financial-aid office using contact information obtained from the school’s official website.
Free Laptop Scams Target Students
Laptops are another popular back-to-school scam lure.
A fraudulent promotion may promise:
“Free Laptop for Students — Claim Yours Before They’re Gone!”
The message may direct you to a website where you are asked to complete a form or pay a small shipping fee.
Recent research into 2026 back-to-school scams identified free-laptop campaigns that used phishing websites and requests for personal information as part of the deception.
Common Free Laptop Scam Tactics
A fake laptop promotion may ask you to:
- Click a promotional link.
- Complete a student eligibility survey.
- Provide personal information.
- Enter your payment-card information.
- Pay a small shipping or processing charge.
- Share the offer with friends.
- Complete multiple surveys before receiving the supposed laptop.
The promised device may never arrive.
Even when a website advertises a genuinely existing laptop brand, that does not necessarily mean the promotion is legitimate.
Fake Government Laptop Schemes
Scammers may also use the names of governments or government programs to make laptop offers appear trustworthy.
For example, authorities in India warned about a fraudulent “Students Laptop Scheme 2026” message that claimed the government was providing free laptops and requested personal information. The government confirmed that the claimed scheme was fake.
This is an important reminder:
Don’t trust a government-themed message simply because it uses official-looking language or logos.
Always verify the program through the relevant government’s official website.
Back-to-School AI Scams
Artificial intelligence has become another theme in 2026 back-to-school scams.
Cybersecurity researchers have reported emails promoting supposedly discounted or free AI subscriptions aimed at students. Some messages may impersonate recognizable technology companies or advertise premium AI access at unusually attractive prices.
Be cautious with offers such as:
- “Free AI for students”
- “18 months of premium AI access”
- “Student ChatGPT subscription”
- “Free AI homework assistant”
- “Unlimited AI study tools”
Not every student discount or AI promotion is fraudulent. However, you should verify the offer through the provider’s official website rather than clicking an unexpected promotional link.
Fake Delivery Messages During Back-to-School Season
Back-to-school shopping can also increase delivery-related scams.
Students and parents may order:
- Laptops
- Textbooks
- Clothing
- School supplies
- Dormitory items
- Electronics
Scammers may send fake delivery messages claiming that a package cannot be delivered until you update your information or pay a small fee.
Recent 2026 research identified fake delivery notifications and Amazon-themed messages among seasonal back-to-school scam activity.
If you receive a delivery notification, check the order directly through the retailer’s official website or app.
How to Spot a Back-to-School Scam
1. You Never Applied
An unexpected message claiming you have won a scholarship or grant should immediately make you cautious.
Ask yourself:
Did I actually apply for this?
If the answer is no, independently investigate before doing anything else.
2. The Offer Creates Urgency
Scammers often use phrases such as:
- “Act now.”
- “Expires tonight.”
- “Last chance.”
- “Claim before midnight.”
- “Only a few laptops remain.”
Urgency is designed to discourage careful research.
Take your time.
3. You Must Pay First
An unexpected demand for money is one of the strongest warning signs.
Be cautious about:
- Processing fees
- Registration fees
- Release fees
- Verification fees
- Shipping charges
- Activation fees
The FTC warns that government grant scammers may request upfront payments and may ask victims to use gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
4. The Link Looks Unfamiliar
Before clicking a link, examine the domain name.
Watch for:
- Misspellings
- Strange domains
- Excessive numbers
- Unusual characters
- Shortened links
- Websites unrelated to the organization being mentioned
When possible, type the organization’s official website into your browser yourself.
5. The Message Requests Sensitive Information
Be particularly cautious if an unexpected offer asks for information such as:
- Banking details
- Passwords
- Verification codes
- Credit-card information
- Government identification numbers
Don’t provide sensitive information simply because a website says you are eligible for a benefit.
How to Verify a Scholarship or Grant
The safest approach is to verify the opportunity independently.
Check the Organization’s Official Website
Don’t use the link supplied in a suspicious email or text message.
Instead, open your browser and navigate to the organization’s official website yourself.
For U.S. federal grants, you can use Grants.gov.
For U.S. federal student aid, visit StudentAid.gov.
The FTC also recommends contacting your school’s financial-aid office when searching for legitimate financial-aid opportunities.
Contact Your School
If someone claims to be offering a scholarship through your school, contact the school directly.
Use contact details obtained from the institution’s official website rather than the phone number or email address included in the suspicious message.
How to Stay Safe From Back-to-School Scams
Follow these simple precautions:
- Don’t click unexpected scholarship or grant links.
- Research the organization before applying.
- Never pay an upfront fee for a supposedly guaranteed scholarship.
- Don’t give your banking information to an unknown organization.
- Never share passwords or one-time verification codes.
- Verify free laptop promotions independently.
- Be cautious with social-media giveaways.
- Check website addresses carefully.
- Keep your devices and browsers updated.
- Use strong, unique passwords.
- Enable two-factor authentication when available.
- Don’t allow an urgent message to pressure you into making a quick decision.
What to Do If You Clicked a Suspicious Link
If you clicked a suspicious link but did not enter any information, close the page and avoid interacting with it further.
If you downloaded a suspicious file, run a security scan using reputable security software.
If you entered a password, change it through the legitimate website and enable two-factor authentication.
If you provided banking or payment information, contact your financial institution promptly and explain what happened.
If you sent money to a scammer, contact the payment provider as soon as possible and ask whether the transaction can be stopped or reversed.
The FTC recommends acting quickly after paying a scammer because some payment methods may provide options for recovering funds.
How to Report a Back-to-School Scam
In the United States, suspected scholarship, grant and financial-aid scams can be reported through the FTC’s official fraud reporting website.
You can also notify the school, organization or government agency that the scammer is impersonating.
For readers in other countries, report the incident to the appropriate consumer-protection or cybercrime authority in your country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free laptop offers for students always scams?
No. Some legitimate schools, charities and organizations provide technology assistance. However, unexpected offers should be independently verified before you provide personal information or payment details.
Is it safe to click a scholarship link in a text message?
It’s safer not to click unexpected links. Instead, independently find the scholarship provider’s official website and verify the opportunity there.
Do legitimate government grants require an upfront fee?
For U.S. federal grants, Grants.gov states that applicants do not pay a fee to apply for federal grants. An unexpected demand for payment should therefore be treated as a major warning sign.
Can a fake scholarship website steal my information?
Yes. A fraudulent website may be designed to collect personal, financial or login information.
What should I do if I receive a fake grant message?
Don’t click the link or provide information. Save the message if necessary for reporting, verify the claim through an official source, and report the scam to the appropriate authority.
Final Thoughts
Back-to-school season creates legitimate opportunities for students to find scholarships, financial aid, discounts and educational resources. Unfortunately, scammers also know that families are actively searching for ways to reduce education expenses.
In 2026, researchers have identified campaigns involving fake education grants, Pell Grant messages, free laptops, AI offers and delivery notifications.
The best protection is to slow down and verify unexpected offers before taking action.
Remember:
If an unexpected message promises free money, a scholarship or a free laptop and asks you to click a link, provide sensitive information or pay a fee, verify the offer independently before proceeding.
When in doubt, visit the organization’s official website directly rather than using the link provided in the message.
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