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- calendar_today October 27, 2026
Workshop Aims to Combat Student Scams at Ohio State
The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs recently hosted a free workshop designed to help students recognize and avoid financial scams. The event, held at Page Hall on the Columbus campus, addressed a range of tactics used by scammers to target college students.
Understanding Common Student Scams
During the workshop, Kate Hallihan, senior assistant dean of students at the Glenn College, and Ericka Wicks, a Fisher College alumna and community manager at Chase Bank, outlined several types of student scams. Hallihan warned students about fake employment and internship postings that may request payment or bank account information under the guise of securing a job, compensation, or purchasing supplies.
Hallihan emphasized, "It comes across as a legit job, and it’s very exciting, and they try to move quickly, and then they ask you for money up front or a bank account up front in order to deposit your first paycheck or advance. If it sounds too good to be true and if they’re asking for money up front, those are two big red flags."
Additional Fraud Risks: Scholarships and Rentals
The session also covered other forms of fraud targeting students, including scholarship scams that request personal information, phony apartment rental offers seeking nonrefundable deposits, debit and credit card fraud, investment and cryptocurrency schemes, and various types of identity theft. These scams often rely on urgency and legitimacy to convince students to provide sensitive details or payments.
Spotting Social Media and Phishing Scams
Wicks shared personal experiences to illustrate the dangers of social media scams and phishing attempts. She recounted a suspicious incident in which an unknown individual contacted her under the pretense of being an Ohio State student. When pressured to meet over Zoom and involve a third party, Wicks recognized the situation as a scam.
She also described how phishing scams typically use emails impersonating trusted organizations, featuring unusual typos or formatting, and prompting recipients to click links or provide personal information. Wicks advised, "Delete it, block it, report it, so you don’t accidentally click on any of these types of links."
Practical Fraud Prevention Tips for Students
- Do not share personal or financial information in response to unsolicited contact.
- Resist the urge to act immediately on requests for information or payment.
- Use strong passwords on all digital accounts.
- Ignore and block unwanted calls and texts.
- Consider placing your number on the National Do Not Call Registry by visiting Donotcall.gov.
Students React: Learning to Protect Themselves
Ohio State students Kayah Israel, a business and finance major, and Samiyah Lewis, a business information systems major, shared how the workshop influenced their approach to fraud prevention. Israel said she learned new strategies to secure her credit cards and avoid accumulating unnecessary charges, while Lewis valued the advice on avoiding scholarship scams, particularly by not sharing key information like Social Security or bank account numbers.
Lewis added, "It definitely is information that you need to keep in mind. We’re young, so it’s a part of learning. I feel like this workshop helped you realize some things while you’re young."
Conclusion: Staying Alert Against Financial Scams
The workshop underscored the importance of vigilance against financial scams, equipping students with essential tools to spot scam red flags, safeguard their identities, and protect their financial information. By staying informed and cautious, Ohio State students can better shield themselves from the wide variety of student scams prevalent today.
Source: news.osu.edu.
