Are you a college student starting the fall semester, eager to earn some extra money through on-campus jobs or internships? Beware of scammers targeting students in search of these opportunities.

Here’s what you need to know about this scam, so you can protect yourself and avoid falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.

One common scam tactic involves someone posing as your boss, pressuring you to purchase gift cards with the promise of reimbursement. Remember, a legitimate employer would not ask you to do this.

Here’s how the scam typically plays out:

• 
  You’ll receive a text or email from someone pretending to be your boss, asking you to help reward your coworkers by purchasing gift cards.

• 
  No matter the story, the request is always the same — buy gift cards and send photos of the card and PINs.

• 
  The scammer will tell you that they’ll pay you back, sometimes even by the end of the day.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises that scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly without verifying the request with their actual boss. Be cautious and vigilant.

Scammers may specify which gift cards to buy and where to purchase them, gaining access to the funds once you provide them with card details. Protect yourself by staying informed and questioning suspicious requests.

If you become a victim of this scam, act swiftly by reporting it to the gift card company to try to recover your money. Additionally, notify the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov with all relevant details to aid in the investigation.