'You're Owed a Tuition Refund' Phish
A message says you have a tuition or financial-aid refund waiting and links to a fake page that steals your student login and bank details.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
Students receive emails or texts claiming a tuition overpayment or financial-aid refund is ready and they must 'verify' their bank details or log in to release it. The link phishes student-portal credentials and bank-account information, which can be used to divert real refunds or commit identity theft. Refunds are handled through your official student account and the school's chosen refund method; unexpected 'verify to release your refund' links are the warning sign.
What it usually looks like
- A 'tuition/aid refund waiting' message.
- A link to 'verify' bank details or log in to release it.
- A fake student-portal or refund page.
- Urgency about claiming the refund.
Common warning signs
- Refund links to non-official sites.
- Requests for bank details to 'release' a refund.
- Pressure to claim quickly.
- Slightly-off sender addresses.
Example wording scammers use
“You have a $740 tuition refund available. Verify your bank details to receive it: student-refund-portal.net”
“Financial aid refund ready — log in to claim before it expires.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Your student-portal login and bank details.
- To divert real refunds.
- Your identity data.
What to do
- Check refunds only in your official student account.
- Don't 'verify' bank details via an emailed link.
- Confirm with the bursar/financial-aid office directly.
- Report phishing to IT.
What to do if you already responded
- Change your student-portal password and notify IT and your bank.
- Watch for misuse of your bank/identity data.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.