Online Safety

Phishing Attempts

Scammers use social engineering, the art of using psychology to gain access to secure areas or information. Hackers and scammers pretend to be trustworthy to get passwords or money, or to put harmful software on your computer.

AI Scams

An AI scam is fraud that uses AI to make a fake request seem real. Scammers may use AI to create convincing messages, voices, images, videos, and websites. The goal may be to steal money, personal information, or access to an account.

What types of scams might I see?

• Deepfake images or videos: AI can create a realistic face or video of a person who is not really making the request.
• Fake chat support: A chatbot may appear helpful while guiding you to a harmful link or asking for private information.
• Fake emails or texts: A message may copy TCC wording, names, or logos and ask you to click a link, sign in, or send information.
• Fake websites or apps: A site may look like a real school, bank, business or government page.
• Online relationship scams: A person or bot may build trust over time, then ask for money or personal information.
• QR code scams: Also called “quishing,” a QR code may send you to a fake website.
• Synthetic identity fraud: A scammer may mix real and fake information to create a false identity.
• Requests for personal information: TCC and other legitimate organizations will never ask for sensitive information like your Social Security number, passwords, or credit card details via email.
• Requests for funds: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to trick you into sending money or gift cards.
• Too good to be true: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scams try to lure you with promises of large sums, prizes, etc. Do your research before responding.
• Voice cloning: A caller may sound like a family member, friend, college employee, or other trusted person.

What should make me stop and check?

• The message pressures you to act right away or warns of a harmful result if you don't act immediately.
• Someone asks for gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, or another unusual form of payment.
• The request asks for passwords, security codes, bank details, or other private information.
• The person contacts you in a way you did not expect.
• The request does not match what the person or office would normally ask you to do.
• A link, web address, or QR code leads to a sign-in or payment page or seems urgent.
• A caller, video, or message seems real, but the situation feels unusual.

Can an AI scam target me financially?

Yes. Scammers may try to impersonate TCC financial aid staff, scholarship organizations, banks, or the government to gain personal financial or refund information.

Will TCC ever ask me to pay with a gift card or with cryptocurrency?

No. Do not buy gift cards to pay TCC or to solve an account problem. A request for payment by gift card or cryptocurrency is a scam.

What other requests should I question?

Do not respond to any requests to share passwords, multi-factor authentication codes, Social Security numbers, or for a wire transfer via a personal payment service. Also never provide information to someone you only know online or by phone. Pause and verify the request first.

What should I do when I get a suspicious message or call?

1. Stop. Do not click, scan, reply, pay or share information right away.
2. End the call or message.
3. Find a phone number, email address, or website you already trust.
4. Contact the person or office through that separate, trusted source.
5. Act only after you confirm the request is real.

How can I check a website or QR code?

• Use an official website or a bookmark you already trust instead of a link from a message or ad.
• Read the full web address. Look for a misspelled word, a switched letter or an unusual ending.
• Do not enter a password or payment information unless you are sure the site is real.
• Be careful with QR codes from unexpected emails, texts, flyers or social media posts.

How can I protect my accounts and devices?

• Use a strong, password, or a password manager for each account and avoid reusing passwords.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication when it is available.
• Keep your phone, apps, and computer software up to date.
• Turn on scam-call filtering on your phone.
• Keep social media accounts private and limit what you share in public posts.

How can I protect myself from a cloned voice?

• Do not trust a voice alone, even when it sounds familiar.
• Hang up and call the person back using a number you already know.
• Create a private family or friend code word for urgent situations.
• Use a second approval step for requests involving money or private information.

What should I do if I think someone is trying to scam me?

• Stop all contact with the sender or caller.
• Do not send money or share more information.
• Contact the person or office being copied through a separate, trusted phone number, or email address.
• Take screenshots and write down what happened.
• Keep a record of the email, text, phone number, voicemail, chat, image, or video.
• Report the incident to the proper TCC office or TCC Police.

What should I do if the message appears to come from TCC?

End the contact and reach the TCC office through an official number, email address, or webpage. Ask the office to confirm whether the request is real before you act. Find resources for help and reporting.

What should I do if I have shared information or sent money?

1. Stop any payment that may still be pending. Contact your bank or card company as soon as possible.
2. Change the password for any account that may be at risk.
3. Turn on multi-factor authentication.
4. Consider freezing your credit with all 3 credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian) if financial or identity information was exposed.
5. Save all messages, screenshots, phone numbers, receipts, and other records.
6. Report the scam to TCC and law enforcement as needed.