It’s about time for school to start, and for some, like those in college, the year is well underway.

For students away at a university, being in your own for the first time can be an exciting time. It can also be a confusing and stressful time. This will be the first time some students have even had to manage their own finances or see employment.

The Ohio Attorney General recently warned students that consumer scams aren’t just targeted at homeowners or the elderly.

“People of all ages can be targeted by scams. For a student with limited income, losing money to a con artist can be devastating,” Mike DeWine, Ohio AG, said. “Our goal is to help people recognize the warning signs and avoid scams.”

Some potential scams to be aware of are:

• Grant scams. Consumers receive a message on social media or a phone call saying they’re eligible for a federal grant worth several thousand dollars. In order to receive the grant, they’re told to pay a few hundred dollars in advance to cover taxes or fees. Ultimately, it’s all a scam; there is no real grant and any money the consumer sends will be lost.

• Student loan relief scams. Consumers are contacted by a student loan relief service that offers to help consolidate, reduce, or eliminate their student loans. Consumers are told to pay an upfront fee or to start making their student loan payments to this service. Despite its promises, the debt relief service never reduces the consumer’s student loan debt and consumers are left in a worse financial position.

• Part-time job scams. Consumers find a part-time or seasonal job online. They complete an online interview and are selected for the position. As one of their first assignments, they receive a check and are told to deposit it, then immediately send some of the money to fulfill a certain task. After sending the money, the consumer finds out that the employer’s check was counterfeit and the job was a scam.

• Apartment rental scams. A consumer finds a good deal on an apartment online and responds to the ad. The “landlord” tells the consumer to wire a down payment to secure the rental. After sending money, however, the consumer finds out that the landlord was a scammer and the rental ad was bogus.