by Evelyn J. Mocbeichel
These pointers can apply to students attending college locally or going away out of town. They can also apply to freshman as well as more experienced juniors and seniors who may feel “they know the ropes” by now. No matter the age, it is an exciting journey these students have started with new experiences, meeting new friends and going to interesting classes. At the same time there are unscrupulous individuals that may try to take advantage of often trusting students so a few reminders here are important. One of the most important topics that scammers rely on for contacting college students is by offering help in paying tuition. For most students and their parents, figuring out and understanding scholarship applications and offers or financial aid packages can be overwhelming and confusing. That is why any emails or mailings the family or student receives should be read carefully. Beware of services that charge high fees to process any loans or scholarship applications. Likewise, if the loan amount is very large and the interest too low that it raises a red flag, avoid going further in the process. It is best to go to your school’s financial aid office to confirm that the firm or offer you are receiving is a legitimate company. Sometimes these scammers only want to obtain personal financial information from you, whether it is your social security number, bank information, credit card number or copies of a previous tax filing. Speaking of bank or credit cards, if receiving a call claiming it is your bank or credit card company warning that your account has been hacked or “compromised”, be wary. Do not give out any information to the caller if the person asks for your personal information. Instead, hang up the phone and call your bank or the phone number on the back of your credit card directly and ask if your account has been hacked.
Employment Offers: Many students have to work while during the school year to supplement their money needs. Sometimes the jobs are off campus and others may be through the school, working directly for funds towards tuition. Students looking for full or part time jobs can also be potential scam victims. If the student receives mail, email or text from someone or a company they have not applied to offering a job, be very cautious. Do not give out any information. If you are not familiar with the company, check the internet to see if it is a real company. Ask a question like is “Name of the company…a fake or scam?” This way you have a good chance of notices warning about the scamming concern and what they promise is not true. Speaking of credit cards, do not apply to every credit card offer you receive that touts lower interest rates. Check what the fees are for both an annual rate and interest if you cannot pay the entire bill each month. If there is a card offer that comes in the mail, do not give too much personal information that they seek if it seems unreasonable. What might be the best idea is to go to your local, well known bank and apply for a credit card in person. This way you know your information is safe and protected. Check out several banks offers and still read the terms and agreement before you accept their card. Another way to protect yourself is to make sure you have a secure password that is not easy to figure out. Be sure to use upper and lower case letters, numbers and a symbol. Do not make something simple like your name and date of birth as your password. Think about changing your password at least once a year. Wishing all students a wonderful, happy and fantastic academic school year ahead!