Graduation season is full of exciting firsts for many Central Oregon families. Students may be preparing for college, starting a summer job, moving into a first apartment, or managing their own money in new ways. Those milestones are worth celebrating. They’re also a good time to talk about fraud prevention.

Young adults are often comfortable online, but that does not make them immune to scams. In fact, scammers know students are busy, eager for opportunities, and often making quick decisions about school, work, housing, and finances. Common scams targeting students and young adults include fake job offers, too-good-to-be-true rental listings, phishing emails that appear to come from a school or financial aid office, and messages asking for personal or account information.

Many scams rely on urgency. A fake employer may say a student needs to pay for training, equipment, or a background check before they can start. A rental scammer may ask for a deposit before allowing a tour. A phishing email may warn that financial aid, enrollment, or an account will be suspended unless the student clicks a link right away. It is always best to pause and verify before responding, when a message pressures someone to act fast.

When a message pressures someone to act fast, pause and verify before responding.

How families can help young adults stay protected:

  • Encourage them to verify job offers through official company websites or trusted contacts before sharing information.
  • Remind them that legitimate employers should not ask for money upfront or send a check with instructions to return part of it.
  • Teach them to avoid sharing passwords, secure codes, Social Security numbers, or banking details by email, text, or direct message.
  • Ask them to review bank and credit card activity regularly and turn on account alerts when available.

Rental scams deserve a little extra attention, especially for students searching from out of town. Be cautious if a listing has very limited photos, the price seems unusually low, or the person posting it will not allow an in-person or verified virtual tour. Before sending money, compare the listing across reputable sites, confirm the property exists, and avoid payment methods that are hard to trace.

The best protection is often a simple conversation. Talk through real examples, ask what kinds of messages or offers they are seeing, and make it easy for them to ask questions without embarrassment. Fraud can happen to anyone, and slowing down is one of the strongest habits a young adult can build.

At Mid Oregon Credit Union, we believe financial confidence starts with awareness. Whether your student is staying close to home or heading into a new chapter beyond Central Oregon, helping them learn to pause, verify, and protect their information can make a lasting difference.

For more tips on protecting your personal information, visit Mid Oregon’s Security and Fraud Page: https://ow.ly/hjHm50V9XE1 [ow.ly].