It’s a nationwide scam catching students off-guard because it’s sent to their school emails, disguising the attempt at fraud as coming through a trusted source.
Leaders in Forest Hills and Rockford public school districts sent notices to parents, warning the scam begins with a fake job-posting email with a link to a Google Form eventually asking the student for account information to deposit checks.
The scammer escalates to intimidation, including threats of physical harm to create panic in the victims.
Rockford Superintendent Dr. Stephen Matthews notes students often have limited financial experience, an urgent need for income, and may be reluctant to seek help due to embarrassment or potential judgement.
“Sometimes students get caught up in a situation like this, where they are being extorted then feel embarrassed by it and then don't want to tell anybody about it and then we've actually seen some tragic incidents where students feel like they have no hope and end up hurting themselves and so we don't want students to feel vulnerable.”
If students see the emails or have fallen for the scam, Matthews urges them to report it to school staff or a trusted adult for help contacting banks to stop transactions, and to save all communications as evidence including screenshots, emails and texts.
