Since its inception in 2000, the online learning market has grown by over 900%, making it the fastest-growing sector in the education industry.
Yet, any flourishing online market would be odd without the presence of cybercrime. Online learning is no different, with scams waiting around every corner.
Today, we’ll dive into the scams surrounding online learning: what they look like, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself against them.
Without further ado, let’s jump right in…
Table of Contents
6 types of online learning scams
Not all courses are worth the investment — cybercriminals have hitched onto the online learning bandwagon and it’s your job to spot them.
Here’s the list of learning scams you should know about.
#1. Your course just doesn’t exist
This one is a real slap in the face — you’ve paid up, received your invoice, and the course never shows up! You can wait all you like; your course content will never arrive, and the scammer has long disappeared.
#2. The curriculum is stolen
So you’re halfway through your online video course, only to stumble across the same set of videos on YouTube. Stolen content is all too common with course scams — you might not even realize it until it’s too late.
#3. Misleading course advertising
The ad promised “guaranteed earnings in 6 months”, yet it’s been a year, and you haven’t seen a cent. It sounds like this course creator intentionally promised a whole lot more than they could possibly deliver.
#4. Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scams
The old Pyramid Scheme is alive and well in the form of MLMs, who often stage courses as a front for recruitment. All the course material is geared towards indoctrinating you into the MLM.
#5. Phishing campaigns
Scam courses are an opportunity for cybercriminals to go phishing for data. They’ll collect all the payment, login, and personal data from anyone who signs up, even blackmailing victims for more money.
#6. Surprise costs for extra content
While some courses offer nothing, some purposely under-deliver. You’ll get to the end of your course and feel underwhelmed. That’s when the course creator will offer you another (probably more expensive) course to “complete” your education.
7 signs of a scammy online course
In a world where knowledge is gold, it’s up to you to ensure you don’t fall for an online course scam.
Let’s look at the signs that the course you’re considering of buying might be a scam.
#1. It’s way too good to be true
If they promise you the stars, expect anything but. Scammers promote fake courses that sound too good to be true, teaching powerful skills for low prices and with no effort. Don’t be sucked in!
#2. Lack of reviews or fake testimonials
Online course scams don’t hang around for long, so most lack reviews. Often, those with reviews create fake testimonials. Read through independent, non-biased reviews to get a real inside look into a course.
#3. High-pressure sales tactics
Do you feel like you’re being pressured into buying this course? It’s because you are — course creators make most of their money from quick sales of cheaper courses. The quicker they get you to buy, the less likely you’ll rethink your purchase.
#4. For sale over a phishy website
The course provider or course store can tell you a lot about how scammy a course is. If the website feels odd, outdated, spammy, or even just suspicious, don’t take the risk and have your data stolen.
#5. Unverifiable credentials and work history
Scam artists like to impersonate established institutions or claim false credentials in order to appear knowledgeable. If you can’t verify their identity, credentials, education, or work history, get out of there!
#6. Missing course information
Is the course description leaving plenty to be desired? Professional course curators know how to market courses and present crucial information to buyers. Missing information is a simple sign of a low-quality course or a scam.
#7. Instructors messaging you directly
Unless otherwise mentioned, it’s highly unlikely for a professional course creator to contact students directly. If a course creator reaches out to you offering extra services or casual conversation, be ready for a scam.
Safeguarding yourself from online course scams
Use trusted course providers
By far, the simplest way to avoid most course scams is by shopping over established course marketplaces. The most popular are:
If you stray too far from one of these websites, do your due diligence to ensure the site is trusted and secure.
Empower your cybersecurity
Students complete courses on their phones, tablets, laptops — you name it! This proves how important and powerful cybersecurity is on all of your devices:
- Premium antivirus should be installed on everything. This means, your smart home devices–too.
- VPNs on mobile devices are a vital tool for browsing. Learn why to use a VPN on an iPhone and pick the one that suits your needs best.
- Modern cyber hygiene standards are essential. Keep yourself updated on the latest cyberthreats, and you’ll be one step ahead of the hackers.
Research instructors and institutions
If your instructor claims to be someone, make sure they are. Anyone can claim to be Harvard-educated, but only those who attended can prove it. Do a deep dive into your course creators to ensure they are who they claim to be.
Read the Ts & Cs
Before you protest, no one wants to read the terms and conditions, but if you’re feeling suspicious, you just should. Actual courses will offer lenient terms that allow for refunds and a space for satisfaction guarantee.
Stay safe!
