Scam warning for college students
Cram – not spam.
As college students across New York prepare to head back to campus, the state’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) has issued a scam warning designed to protect postsecondary students from identity theft and other scams.
Whether living away from home for the first time, navigating financial aid, or building credit, students have ample opportunities to get scammed, said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodríguez, who oversees the Department of State and DCP.
“The best way for college students to avoid textbook, scholarship or rental scams is to be informed. This is an exciting time as students, often on their own for the first time, learn how to balance their freedom and responsibilities. This new independence makes them targets for scammers,” said Rodríguez. “The goal of the Division of Consumer Protection is to educate students and arm them with knowledge to protect themselves against identity theft, scams and other safety prevention tips.”
Scam prevention tips for higher education students
- Unpaid Tuition Scam: Ignore calls claiming that you’ll be dropped from all classes unless you pay tuition immediately over the phone. Always call the school bursar’s office directly to verify your account status. Schools generally send an invoice to alert students of account status.
- Buying Books Online: Scam artists set up fake websites and offer great deals…
