Know the difference, back-to-school deal? or Scammers targeting wallets?

GEORGIA. (WALB) — Back to school season is not immune to scams, according to the Criminal Investigation division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Each year students’, parents’, and teachers’ information, and finances are targeted by scammers. In the 2025 fiscal year the IRS found over $24 million dollars in cyber related crime. In many cases that money is unrecoverable.

While going back to the classroom should be an exciting time for students, the IRS’s Criminal Investigation division says parents and teachers must remain diligent against cybercrimes.

In the Back-to-school season the IRS sees an increase in fake e-commerce websites, fraudulent fee requests, and scams targeting minors on online platforms.

The IRS recommends

• Using established online retailers
• Verify websites are legitimate.
• Verify messages from schools
  • scammers are impersonating official school communications to gain information and money
• Avoid giving out a child’s personal information online
• Monitor online spaces used by children.
  • Especially on gaming platforms and social media apps.
• Report fraud quickly

Fraud can be reported to the IRS, here.

Spotting Fake Websites

One of the biggest ways scammers are stealing information and money is thought legitimate looking websites. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says there are several signs that can identify a fake website.

Fake Websites often

• Have similar looking domain names.
  •  For example, WALB.com is legitimate, WLAB.com is fake.
• Have Tricky looking Subdomains
  • The BBB uses netflix.com.movies.com as an example. The subdomain should be .com. In this example movies.com is the subdomain.
• Are linked in enticing emails or texts
  • Links look legitimate but send users to unsafe sites
• Have poor design quality      
  • Impersonated websites may have odd layouts, poor web design, low quality images
• Use a fake website checker like this one recommended by the BBB to check any suspicious websites before buying.

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