Back-to-School, Back to Benefits, and Back to Scams
As employees return from summer schedules and schools prepare for another year, there is plenty to keep track of. New staff members are joining districts, employees are catching up on emails, and open enrollment may be just around the corner.
Unfortunately, cybercriminals know this busy time of year creates opportunities to catch people off guard. It’s easy to speed through your work while playing catch up, but it’s more important to stay vigilant.
For school district employees, that can mean staying aware of convincing emails, text messages, phone calls, or QR codes that appear to be connected to benefits, payroll, IT support, or other familiar services. Taking a few extra seconds to verify an unexpected request can help protect personal information and reduce the risk of fraud.
Why Back-to-School Season Can Bring New Risks
The start of a new school year brings a lot of activity. Employees may be logging into benefits accounts after a break, completing enrollment paperwork, updating personal information, or working with new systems and technology. That activity can make an unexpected request seem perfectly reasonable.
Cybercriminals are also using artificial intelligence to create more convincing phishing emails, text messages, and even realistic voice/video scams. That means employees cannot always rely on the same old tactics to identify a fraudulent message. Some of those tactics may include but not be limited to poor spelling, obvious mistakes, or an unfamiliar tone.
If a message or request seems unexpected, pause before clicking or providing information.
Four Common Scams to Watch For
1. Fake Benefits Emails
An email may appear to come from a benefits provider or another familiar organization and ask you to verify benefits information, reset a password, or log in to an account.
Be especially cautious of:
- Unexpected login requests
- Urgent language such as “Act now!”
- Misspelled or unfamiliar web addresses
Instead of clicking the link in the message, type the benefits website directly into your browser or access it through a trusted district resource. If something does not seem right, contact your HR department or benefits administrator to verify where information is coming from.
2. QR Code Scams
QR codes have become a convenient way to share information, including benefits resources. That convenience can also create an opportunity for scammers.
A fraudulent QR code may appear on a flyer, email, or bulletin board and claim to lead to benefits information. Before entering any personal information, make sure the QR code came from a trusted source and check the website address after scanning.
When in doubt, go directly to your district’s benefits portal rather than relying on a QR code.
3. Fake “IT Support” Calls
Imagine receiving a call from someone claiming to be from your district’s IT department. They say there is an issue with your account and ask for your password, multi-factor authentication code, or approval.
Stop there.
Your IT department should never need your password or security verification codes. If you are unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and contact your IT department using a trusted phone number. The same principle applies to unexpected requests for authentication approvals. Do not immediately approve a request solely because someone tells you that you need to. It may be worth slowing down to ask a manager if the request is coming from a trusted source.
4. Public Wi-Fi Risks
The start of the school year can also mean more travel, conferences, training sessions, and time spent working away from the office. Logging into payroll, benefits, or other accounts while connected to public Wi-Fi at an airport, hotel, or coffee shop can put sensitive information at greater risk. Whenever possible, wait until you are connected to a secure network. If a VPN is available, use it, and always log out of sensitive accounts when you are finished.
Five Simple Ways to Stay Safer Online
A few basic habits can go a long way toward protecting personal and benefits information:
- Use unique passwords for important accounts.
- Enable multi-factor authentication whenever it is available.
- Keep computers and mobile devices updated.
- Never share passwords or verification codes.
- Report suspicious emails, phone calls, or text messages to your HR or IT team.
Employee awareness is an important part of cybersecurity. In fact, the 2026 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report notes that cybercriminals target human behavior more often than technical vulnerabilities.
When in Doubt, Stop and Verify
Not every suspicious message is easy to identify. A request may use familiar names and logos, look professional, or even sound like someone you know. That is why one of the simplest cybersecurity habits is also one of the most effective: slow down.
If you receive an unexpected request, do not feel pressured to respond immediately. Take a moment to verify the request through a trusted source.
For questions about employee benefits, contact your HR department or benefits administrator rather than responding directly to an unexpected message. As a new school year gets underway, staying alert can help employees protect not only their own information, but also their coworkers and their district.
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