As the new academic year begins, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the back-to-school season with scams aimed at students, teachers, and educational institutions. Recent findings from DNSFilter highlight an increase in specific types of threats that tend to resurface during this period.

Textbook Fraud on the Rise

One of the most common scams revolves around fake textbook offers. In August last year, a fraudulent textbook financing website captured more than 3,000 search queries within just 11 days before being taken offline. Despite its removal, DNSFilter researchers warn that similar fraudulent domains continue to appear. With students actively searching for affordable learning materials, experts expect another wave of textbook-related scams this fall, particularly targeting college students.

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Fake School Websites

Another concerning trend involves cybercriminals creating counterfeit school-related websites. In one campaign, many domains were registered on the same day to mimic a school’s CDN. This strategy made the domains appear legal to unsuspecting users. DNSFilter’s data shows that scam traffic directed at education-related websites spikes not only in August and September but also during December and January, aligning with the start of new academic terms and holiday breaks.

Cell Phone Restrictions Fuel Bypass Attempts

With several U.S. states introducing restrictions on cell phone use in schools, DNSFilter anticipates a rise in students attempting to bypass school internet filters. As personal devices are limited, students may increasingly rely on school-issued devices to access blocked platforms such as social media, online forums, or gaming sites.
Research shows that filter-avoidance traffic to DNSFilter’s systems has climbed steadily: 15% in Texas, 57% in New York, and 70% in Florida, three states where phone bans have recently been enforced.

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Security Risks at the Start of the School Year

The beginning of a new academic cycle also introduces new devices, accounts, and login credentials, presenting additional risks. Protective DNS solutions play a critical role in reducing exposure by blocking access to malicious domains before users can connect. This helps defend schools against phishing, malware infections, and unauthorized attempts to bypass security filters.

Expert Warning

Ken Carnesi, CEO and co-founder of DNSFilter, emphasized the importance of heightened awareness during this season.

“At a time that should be full of excitement, our data shows that schools and those they serve must be extra vigilant to avoid getting scammed by criminal opportunists. Our mission is to make it as difficult as possible for these scams to succeed.”

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