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  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 29, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: college, , , , unpaid tuition   

    Scam Calls Target Students Over Unpaid Tuition 

    Scam Calls Target Students Over Unpaid Tuition

    By Greg Collier

    The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a warning to college students and their parents about a growing scam that targets those paying tuition. Imagine receiving a call from someone claiming to be from your school’s financial aid office, telling you that your tuition bill hasn’t been paid. The caller might threaten to drop your classes unless you send money immediately. While this may cause alarm, it’s essential to pause and think carefully, you could be dealing with a scammer.

    These scammers pose as school officials, often claiming that financial aid has fallen through or that your transcripts are being held until the balance is paid. Their goal is to create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act without verifying the legitimacy of the claim. However, a legitimate school office would never try to scare you into making a payment over the phone.

    If you receive such a call, it’s crucial not to panic. Scammers rely on the fear of missing out on classes or having academic records withheld to trick you into making hasty decisions. Instead of responding immediately, take the time to verify the situation through secure channels. Most schools post tuition bills on secure student portals, where you can safely check your balance and make payments. If you’re still uncertain, contact the financial aid or billing office directly using a phone number you know is legitimate.

    Remember, scammers can manipulate caller ID to make it appear as if the call is coming from your campus. Don’t trust what you see on the screen, and never give out your bank or credit card information over the phone to an unknown caller. If someone pressures you to pay with cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards, it’s almost certainly a scam.

    The FTC urges anyone who encounters this scam to report it. By spreading the word, you can help protect others from falling victim to these deceptive tactics. Always verify through trusted sources before making any payments, especially when it comes to something as important as education.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 22, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , college, , ,   

    Fraudulent Tutors Become Blackmailers 

    Fraudulent Tutors Become Blackmailers

    By Greg Collier

    If you’re a college or high school student seeking help with homework or test preparation, be cautious. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is sounding the alarm about a rising number of scams involving fraudulent tutors. Instead of providing academic assistance, these scammers exploit students who hire them to complete assignments, using the situation to engage in extortion.

    The scam begins when a student enlists a tutor to handle their assignments or help them cheat on tests. Rather than delivering the promised services, the scammer demands payment upfront, only to later threaten the student with exposure unless additional money is paid. After the initial payment, the scammer often continues to demand more, citing bogus reasons like extra research needs. As a result, students can end up losing thousands of dollars, while receiving no academic help whatsoever.

    The BBB stresses that hiring someone to complete your schoolwork constitutes cheating. For students who need legitimate tutoring to understand their class material, there are ways to avoid falling prey to these cons. First, consider asking friends, family, or teachers for recommendations. Schools often have resources, including other students, who offer tutoring at little to no cost, making them a reliable place to start.

    Additionally, it’s wise to verify the credentials of any potential tutor by asking for references. Contacting those references provides insight into their experiences and the results they’ve seen, helping you make an informed decision. Before starting any tutoring sessions, it’s also essential to agree on availability and rates upfront. While fees might increase for extra sessions ahead of a big test, these should be discussed in advance to avoid unexpected demands, which are often signs of a scam.

    In your quest for academic support, it’s important to be cautious. Taking the time to find a trustworthy tutor helps you learn and ensures that you won’t be taken advantage of by scammers looking to profit from your education.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on May 23, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: college, , , ,   

    Fake job offers targeting college students 

    By Greg Collier

    In the heart of North Carolina, a college student’s promising summer opportunity turned into a financial nightmare. The student, nearing the completion of her junior year at North Carolina A&T, received what seemed to be a golden opportunity via email. She was offered a paid research position with a weekly salary of $450. The email appeared legitimate, even mentioning a real professor’s name and containing the university’s logo, which made the offer seem trustworthy.

    Despite her attempts to verify the legitimacy of the opportunity, the student fell victim to an elaborate scam. After being “hired,” she received a check for $2,400, purportedly for office supplies necessary for the remote research role. Following instructions, she deposited the check and transferred the money through the payment app Zelle to a supposed sales representative who would provide the supplies. It wasn’t until her bank notified her that the check was fake that she realized she had been swindled. Now, she faces a $2,400 debt to the bank, with no recourse to recover the funds.

    This incident highlights a recurring issue that continues to affect students not only at North Carolina A&T but across the nation. The scam, which impersonates faculty members and advertises too-good-to-be-true job offers, preys on students’ aspirations and financial vulnerabilities.

    To protect against such scams, there are several key warning signs to watch for.

    Genuine job opportunities typically require a formal application process, including interviews. Be wary of offers that come out of the blue, especially if they promise high pay with minimal effort.

    Scrutinize the sender’s email address. In the student’s case, the scammer used a generic email provider rather than an official university address ending in .edu. This is a significant red flag.

    If a job offer involves sending money to a third party or purchasing supplies upfront, it’s likely a scam. Legitimate employers provide the necessary resources directly or reimburse expenses through official channels.

    Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pushing targets to act quickly without due diligence. Take your time to verify any offer thoroughly before committing.

    Students should also be aware of resources available to them for verifying job offers. Universities often provide career services that can help students validate employment opportunities. Additionally, students can report suspicious job offers to their university’s IT department or the Better Business Bureau.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on March 15, 2024 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: college, , , ,   

    College athletes targeted in sophisticated scam 

    College athletes targeted in sophisticated scam

    By Greg Collier

    Connecticut’s state authorities are issuing a stern warning about a disturbing new trend targeting college athletes and their families. According to authorities, scammers are exploiting publicly available information to dupe unsuspecting individuals into making immediate payments under false pretenses, creating a sense of urgency and panic in the process.

    Reports from Connecticut State University Police Departments have revealed a troubling pattern. The callers, posing as university police officers, contact parents of university students, specifically targeting student-athletes. They claim that the student-athlete has been slapped with citations for various infractions like open container violations, curfew breaches, or trespassing. To compound the urgency, the scammer demands immediate payment through platforms like CashApp and Venmo.

    If this scam rings a bell, it’s because it bears striking resemblances to both the grandparent scam and the virtual kidnapping scam, sprinkled with elements of police impersonation. It’s now known more commonly as the family emergency scam.

    It’s a chilling reminder that scammers stop at nothing to manipulate emotions and coerce victims into compliance. The tactic of impersonating law enforcement adds an extra layer of credibility and intimidation, leaving victims feeling cornered and compelled to act swiftly.

    The State of Connecticut has issued a statement that said, a legitimate police department or campus safety program will never solicit payment for citations over the phone.

    Although this version of the scam is aimed at student-athletes, previous iterations have targeted the families of college students who aren’t involved in athletics. Essentially, any parent with a child attending college could potentially fall victim to this scam.

    Individuals who receive suspicious calls or communications purporting to be from law enforcement are urged to hang up immediately and report the incident to local police. Furthermore, those who have fallen victim to this scam are advised to take swift action by contacting their financial institutions to mitigate potential damages.

     

  • Geebo 9:00 am on November 7, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: college, , ,   

    College parents targeted by this scam 

    By Greg Collier

    Parents of college students are being targeted in a new scam, but it’s actually an old scam with new targets. It’s more infamously known as the grandparent scam. As you may know, that scam targets the elderly, with scammers trying to convince their victims that one of their grandchildren is in trouble. Often the scammers will claim to be the grandchild. It’s all done to try to squeeze money out of the victims disguised as bail money or some other legal fee. Meanwhile, the grandchild is safe and unaware they’re being used in a scam.

    As you can surmise by the headline, some scammers have decided to target a new demographic, but it’s still the same old scam. Now referred to as the emergency scam, scammers are calling college parents and telling them their child has been arrested. The scammers then ask for bail money that needs to be paid through apps like Venmo or Zelle. With a student possibly being states away from their parents, this could put the parents into a panicked state where they’re not thinking clearly. This is what the scammers are hoping for, so parents don’t have time to logically think about the situation.

    So, how do scammers know which parents to target? Social media, of course. The scammers look for college students on social media, and from there it’s usually not hard to find the student’s parents.

    It also doesn’t help that scammers are now using AI-generated voice cloning technology to imitate the voices of students. If a student is active on social media and have posted videos of themselves, it’s not difficult for the scammers to get a sample of their voice to use in their schemes.

    However, if you’re aware of the scam, it’s easy to beat. Even if it sounds like your own child is telling you they’re in jail, be suspicious. Instead, attempt to contact them directly, either using another phone or text message. You can also call the police department where they’re supposedly being held. And keep in mind that bail is never paid through payment apps, gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or money transfers. Setting up a code word with your child that’s only to be used in the case of an emergency will also go a long way in protecting your family from this scam.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on May 9, 2023 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: college, , ,   

    Scam targets families of college students 

    Scam targets families of college students

    By Greg Collier

    One of every parent’s worst fears is getting the late night phone call and hearing a police officer on the other side. Rarely, does that bring good news. Now imagine the call is coming from out of state where your child attends college. Of course, you want to do anything you can to help your child, but what can you do being so far away? That’s when the helpful police officer offers a solution that can be done online. Except, the solution is no solution at all. In fact, it’s an even bigger problem.

    That’s what’s currently happening to the parents of some college students across the country. Scammers are calling the parents of college students while impersonating campus police. Parents will see the phone number appear as their child’s college or university in their caller ID. The parents are then told the caller is with campus police and their child is in some kind of legal trouble. For example, a report from the University of Iowa said the scammers claimed the student had gotten into a fight and was currently being detained.

    As with most scams, the scammers will try to emotionally manipulate a payment out of their victim. The scammers will threaten to take the student to jail if payment isn’t made. Typically, scammers will ask for a payment that can be done over the phone. Another report from Texas A&M University states that scammers there were asking for payment over the mobile payment app Venmo. This is done because once a payment goes through on apps like this, it’s gone forever.

    Meanwhile, this is all going on while the student is completely unaware they’re being used as the bait in a scam.

    If this scam sounds familiar, it should. The scam borrows heavily from both the grandparent scam and the virtual kidnapping scam, with some police impersonation thrown in.

    If you receive a phone call like that about any family member or loved one, ask the callers for their information, such as name and badge number. Even if they give you the names of actual officers, don’t believe them until you verify their information. Hang up the call or use another device to contact the person who was supposedly arrested. You’ll more than likely find that person has not been arrested. Lastly, never send any money. Real law enforcement agencies will never ask for money over the phone.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on October 4, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , college, , , ,   

    College students still vulnerable to job scams 

    College students still vulnerable to job scams

    By Greg Collier

    College students and other young adults tend to be more technologically inclined than previous generations. Unfortunately, being more comfortable with modern tech can lead young people into a false sense of security. When it comes to finding a job, many of the analog ways of older generations are still in effect. Scammers will take advantage of the convenience of tech while using the anonymity it can sometimes afford them. This chicanery has become very prevalent in the job market. With many young people striking out on their own for possibly the first time, they could easily fall victim to job scammers.

    This recently happened to a college student in Texas. She was searching for a job online and more than likely had posted her resume on employment platforms. She received a text message that claimed to be from a textile company in Chicago, offering her a job. The position was a remote data entry position that offered close to $40/hr along with benefits and a 401K. All interviews and follow-ups were done through text or messaging app. The student never saw the face of anyone at the supposed company.

    She was hired almost on the spot. She was then told she would need equipment for the position. The student was then sent two checks that added up to $10,000. The company instructed her to deposit the checks and use the money to buy the equipment she needed. She was told to use specific vendors and that she could pay them through Venmo or Cash App. When payment wouldn’t go through on either of those apps, she was told to wire the money. The checks turned out to be fraudulent, which not only wiped out her savings but left her in debt to her bank.

    Those that are inexperienced in the job market may not be aware that businesses do not use apps like Zelle and Venmo to pay for business expenses. Even those who have years of job experience may not know that legitimate businesses, even those offering remote positions, do not send checks that the employee is supposed to deposit in their own bank account to use for business expenses. The fake check scam is one that has been duping job applicants for years now.

    If colleges and universities are not doing do already, scam awareness should be part of the orientation process. If you know a young person who is attending college, you may want to let them know about the scams that specifically target them, like this one.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on September 8, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , college, , ,   

    Job and check scam targets college students 

    Job and check scam targets college students

    By Greg Collier

    College students have it hard enough today without having to worry about scammers. Unfortunately, that’s what makes them prime targets for scammers. With the ever-increasing cost of tuition, college students often take on part-time jobs along with their full class schedule. Juggling both isn’t an easy feat, and that’s if a student can find a job that allows them the flexibility to attend their classes. With that amount of activity on their plates, it’s no wonder scammers are targeting students.

    One college student from Iowa found this out the hard way to the tune of $3000. The student received an email that appeared to come from his university. It even came from an email address used by his school. The email offered him a job for $450 a week running errands for an off-campus employer. The student said he knew other students who had similar positions, so he didn’t think it was a scam.

    The student was sent a $3000 check and was told to deposit the check into his bank account. He was told to keep $450 for himself and send the remainder of the check to charities. If you’re a regular reader, you know exactly what happened next.

    After the student sent out the money, the student’s bank discovered the check was fraudulent. The charities were more than likely other scammers waiting for their cut. Even though the student was a victim of a scam, he still owes his bank the full amount of the phony check. There aren’t too many college students who can just produce $3000 out of thin air. Having a delinquent bank account like this can also affect his future credit and other banking opportunities.

    While we might like to think our nation’s universities and colleges have their email accounts on lockdown, they don’t. Even email addresses that end in .edu can be hijacked by scammers. They’re just as vulnerable as personal and business email accounts if they have a weak password or were compromised in a data leak.

    Also, no legitimate employer is ever going to ask you to deposit a check used for business expenses into your own account. If they do, the check is fake, and they’re a scammer.

    If you’re a college student, and you receive an email like this, call the proper university department to verify if the job offer if legitimate or not. If you know a college student or have one in your family, you might want to pass this story on to them. Let’s try to make their lives a little easier.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on April 25, 2022 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , college, , , , ,   

    Job scam hits college student hard 

    By Greg Collier

    When we think of scam victims, we tend to think of the elderly. However, a very close second to the elderly are college-aged adults. While the former has a wealth of life experience, they may not be savvy with modern tech. Meanwhile, the latter typically tend to have little life experience to draw on to help protect hem from scams. It may even be that since they were raised with the technology, that could make them even more susceptible to scams.

    For example, a college student from Florida was looking to supplement his income while taking classes. He received an email from someone who was using an email address issued by his college. If you’re not a student or faculty member of said school, then it is almost impossible to get access to one of the school’s email addresses.

    The job was said to pay $500 a week and would have the student helping out foster homes and orphanages in the area. The employer sent the student a check for $4500. The student was instructed to print out the check before making a mobile deposit of the check. He was told to keep $500 for himself, while sending the rest of the money to other employees of the company through PayPal and Zelle.

    It wasn’t too long before the student’s bank contacted him to let him know the check was a fake. The student texted his supposed boss, who sent him another check and told him to deposit that one too. That check was recognized by the bank as also being fake and denied the deposit. The bank even informed the student that he would be responsible for the overages in his account.

    If you know someone in your family who is about to head off to college or has just started college, please let them know about this scam. Let them know that no legitimate employer will ever ask them to use their own bank account for business purposes. Even in today’s marketplace with non-traditional employers, they will never ask you to deposit anything in your bank account to pay someone else. If they do, they’re not a legitimate employer.

     

  • Geebo 8:00 am on August 18, 2021 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , college, , , , pet sitting, , ,   

    Scam Round Up: Pet sitting, Bitcoin, and Magazines 

    By Greg Collier

    Today, we’re bringing you another trio of scams that warrant your attention. This week, we have three scams that variants of other scams we’ve discussed.

    If you’re in college, or have a child in college, the Better Business Bureau is warning about a particular job scam. It appears that in both Florida and New York, college students are being offered part -time pet-sitting jobs for a pretty good wage. However, this is just a ruse to send the college student a fake check as payment. The students will be told to deposit the check, purchase some supplies, and return a portion of the check. While the bank will honor the deposit at first, they will eventually determine it’s fake and put the financial burden on the student since they were the one that deposited the check.

    ***

    In Northern Ohio, authorities there are reporting victims there are falling for a Bitcoin scam, but it’s more like the police impersonation scam. The scammers are posing as federal investigators who tell the victims that someone in Texas near the Mexican border has rented a car in the victim’s name and a large cache of illegal drugs were found in the car. In order to avoid arrest, the victim is told to pay a substantial amount of money. Previously, the scammers would have victims mail cash or buy gift cards. In this case, the scammers are instructing victims to make payments through Bitcoin ATMs, which we’ve previously discussed here. No law enforcement agency is ever going to threaten you with arrest if you don’t make a payment in cryptocurrency or other untraceable means of payment like gift cards.

    ***

    Lastly, in Rhode Island, an alert FedEx clerk saved a man from falling for a scam that could have cost the victim thousands of dollars. When the clerk asked about the man’s shipment, the man claimed it had $500 worth of old magazines in it. The clerk was suspicious and was worried that the man was being scammed. With a manager’s approval, the clerk opened the package and there was $15,000 worth of cash inside. While the news report doesn’t say what kind of scam the man had almost fallen for, the man said that he was promised a bigger payout if he mailed the cash. This sounds an awful lot like an advanced fee scam or sweepstakes scam where that victim was told to send cash intertwined in the pages of magazines. Remember, that you don’t have to pay any fees for a prize like that. Taxes for such prizes are usually figured out later.

    ***

    Hopefully, these scams don’t come to your area, but now you’ll be prepared if they do.

     

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