First-year college students go through a lot of growing pains as they face new challenges and opportunities. As they figure out which major to choose, learn how to juggle work and school and just live on their own for the first time, scam artists lie in wait hoping the students make a mistake.
First-year college students are exposed to all kinds of new possibilities, which make them vulnerable to scam artists who make attempts to take advantage of their lack of life experiences.
Oakmere road how first year college students can avoid being victims of scammers
1. Oakmere Road: How first-year college students can
avoid being victims of scammers
First-year college students go through a lot of growing pains as they face new challenges
and opportunities. As they figure out
which major to choose, learn how to
juggle work and school and just live on
their own for the first time, scam artists
lie in wait hoping the students make a
mistake.
First-year college students are exposed to
all kinds of new possibilities, which make
them vulnerable to scam artists who make
attempts to take advantage of their lack of
life experiences.
BBB sheds some light on the
following scams, which target those
attending college:
Accommodation scams: Rental
owners are supposedly governed by strict controls over the conditions in which they
maintain their properties. However, there are unscrupulous landlords who don’t play by
the rules. You want to make sure you actually go to the property before putting any
money down, and make sure you’re getting what you expected.
Non-existent rentals: They take your downpayment, and when you arrive, the person
you gave the money to doesn’t even own the property, or the property doesn’t exist.
2. Before providing any form of payment, visit the property and research the property
management company by going to bbb.org.
Finding a place to work: If the job you’re looking at involves door-to-door selling,
such as selling magazines, cleaning supplies, handyman work or even raising money for
charity, you want to make sure you check the company out before you begin working for
them. In some cases, the product doesn’t exist, the charity is bogus or the handyman
really doesn’t do the work you’re selling, which means you’re not likely going to get paid.
Fake initial checks: Steer clear from any job that sends you a check to deposit, then
wants you to wire funds or put funds to a prepaid card. The problem is, the check is fake
or it might be a forged check from an actual bank account (but not from the company on
the check), and you could be charged with money laundering if you cash it.
Paying for school: Be on the lookout for phony scholarships and grants. These people
are just trying to get your account information to wipe it out, not to deposit money for
school as they claim.
Paying for anything: Some identity thieves set up fake credit card application booths
luring students to give away very personal information in exchange for a T-shirt or an
umbrella or something like that. It’s basically an easy way to steal information. If you
want to get a credit card, go to the bank and apply for one.
Unsecured Wi-Fi hotspot: Using Wi-Fi on an unsecured network puts you at risk for
identity theft. A lot of students use public places to study. Make sure you use encryption
software and password protection to block identity thieves when doing homework in
these Wi-Fi hotspots, and do not log onto your bank account or other sites that contain
personal information.
For more tips on how to be a savvy consumer, go to bbb.org. To report fraudulent
activity or unscrupulous business practices, please call the BBB Hotline: 903-581-8373
or use BBB Scam Tracker.