Avoid the textbook trap: Textbook scams 101

It’s the week before classes start. You find a textbook online for half the price and rush to buy it. The confirmation email never arrives, the website disappears, and now your payment information may be in the hands of scammers. Avoid the textbook trap by following these simple pointers:

Check the website before you check out.
We hope that you wouldn’t turn in an assignment that has misspelled words or grammar mistakes. Apply the same attention to detail when shopping online:

• Check that the website name is spelled correctly and doesn’t contain unusual numbers, misspellings, or strange symbols in the URL
• Look for https:// rather than http:// before entering payment information.
• Be cautious of websites with broken links, confusing navigation, or poorly written content—these can be signs of a scam.

Explore your payment options.
Most legitimate retailers offer multiple payment options, whether that’s ApplePay, Google Pay, PayPal, or others. Requests for payment by gift card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or other hard-to-trace methods are often signs of a scam.

Want to be extra cautious? Use your payment provider’s “virtual card” option instead of your physical card number.

Keep your Rutgers credentials on lockdown.
Did you know reusing passwords across multiple websites gives attackers an easy way to access your accounts? Use a unique password for every site, especially for your Rutgers account.

Receive a weird email after an online purchase? Explore the Phish Bowl for reminders on scam email signs, and report any suspicious activity on your Rutgers accounts by emailing abuse@rutgers.edu or calling the OIT Help Desk at 833-OIT-HELP.

No help and support button? That’s a red flag.
You’ve made your purchase, but what if something goes wrong? Genuine textbook websites will have clear contact information, or a way of canceling or disputing a transaction. If these options aren’t clear, the site’s probably suspicious.

A trusted source is closer than you think – your Rutgers bookstore.
When in doubt, stick with the option right on campus. Rutgers students can avoid much of the guesswork by purchasing through official bookstores in New Brunswick, Newark, or Camden.