Protect Your Identity | GCTC

Protect Your Identity

Stay Alert. Stay Secure.

Colleges across the country are seeing an increase in scams targeting student accounts and refunds. These messages may look official but are designed to steal personal information.

Protect yourself:

  • Gateway will never ask for your username or password
  • Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders
  • When in doubt, contact Gateway directly before taking any action

What Gateway Will Never Ask You to Do

Gateway will never:

  • Ask for your username or password by email, text, phone call, Microsoft document, or Google Form
  • Ask you to verify refunds using external forms or shared documents
  • Send you official communications from personal email accounts (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Hotmail)

Any message requesting this information is not legitimate.

How to Identify Official Gateway Communications

You can help keep your Gateway account secure by checking for these signs:

  • Official Gateway emails always end in @kctcs.edu
  • Messages come through official college systems
  • Refund and account questions can be verified directly with Gateway offices

When in doubt, do not click — verify first.

If you believe a message may be a scam:

  • Do not click any links
  • Do not open attachments or shared documents
  • Do not reply or provide personal information
  • Delete the message after reporting

Higher education institutions nationwide, including Gateway, are reporting an increase in student account and refund-related fraud attempts. These scams are designed to steal personal information, login credentials, or gain access to financial aid refunds.

This page explains how to protect your identity, recognize common student scams, and keep your Gateway account secure.

Be cautious if you receive a message that:

  • Claims there is a problem with your refund or financial aid
  • Asks you to verify or confirm account information
  • Includes links to Word documents, Google Forms, or shared files
  • Uses urgent language such as “Act now” or “Immediate action required”
  • Requests your username, password, or login verification
  • Comes from a non-Gateway email address

If something feels off, trust that instinct.

  • If you have questions about your account, refunds, financial aid, or receive a message that does not feel right, contact the appropriate Gateway office directly.
  • If a message asks for your username, password, or refund verification, stop and contact Gateway directly using the resources above.
  • Scammers rely on urgency and confusion. Taking a moment to pause, verify, and ask questions can protect your money, your identity, and your Gateway account. Taking no action is often the safest action.

Questions about a message you received? Start with the Business Office at gw-businessoffice@kctcs.edu or IT at gw-ithelpdesk@kctcs.edu.