Social media can be a great place to connect with other parents and discover local resources, but it’s also a hot spot for scam activity. Fake giveaways, suspicious groups and too-good-to-be-true offers are often bait for your personal info. And those adorable first day photos? If they include your child’s name, grade, or school, they could give scammers clues to guess your password or answer security questions.

Pro tip: Share the smiles, not the specifics. Tighten your social media privacy settings to limit posts to trusted friends or private groups and avoid tagging names or locations.

Between parent portals, student accounts, and other school-related apps, you most likely have a lot of new logins. That makes your digital footprint a valuable target. Phishing emails disguised as “account verifications” could trick you into giving away your credentials.

Pro tip: Use strong, unique passwords for every account, and enable two-factor authentication whenever you can. If you receive a message asking to verify or update your account, don’t click. Go straight to the official website or app instead.

Back-to-school also means an inbox full of emails, texts, and messages from teachers, schools, clubs, and other parents. Scammers know this and will often mimic these trusted sources to trick you into downloading malicious links, download harmful attachments, or sharing personal info.

Pro tip: Be cautious with any unexpected messages — especially if they have spelling mistakes, strange links or urgent language. If something feels off, contact the school directly.

Giveaways are everywhere this time of year, especially through social media contests and giveaways.  But many of them are phishing scams disguised as contests, offering prizes like free backpacks, laptops, or gift cards if you just “click to claim.”

Pro tip: Be cautious of accounts that only have a few followers or use a generic name. If a post feels rushed or too salesy — it probably isn’t real. Never give out personal information just to enter or win.

Scammers love to target parents or students buying laptops, tablets, or calculators for school. Fake listings and pop-up websites promise big savings but deliver nothing — or worse, malware.

Pro tip: Stick with reputable retailers and avoid sellers who only accept cash or wire transfers. If you’re buying a used device, always meet in a public place and test the device before handing over your money.