Being a college student has many perks. College life is one of the most beautiful time of life. It is important to make the most of this time. However, with everything good in life, there is a possibility of falling victim to some kind of college scams. When it happens, make sure you as a parent or student take appropriate measures as soon as possible.
Below are some of the top college scams to look out for and get an idea of how to avoid them. You are responsible for your own actions as now you are an adult, which is why you have to be careful and watch for the scammers out there.
Some of the most common college scams are as follows:
The Tuition Scam
If you are a parent to a college student you might be aware of the tuition scam. You are likely to receive a call claiming to be the college or university administration department and asking for the unpaid tuition fees.
How To Avoid The Tuition Scam
- Call the financial department of the college or university.
- Ask the relevant department whether the tuition fee is unpaid.
- Let the college authorities know about the scam.
Dorm Room Scam
When you are a fairly new student and looking for a place to reside, you are likely to fall victim to the dorm room scam. A scammer would convince you to pay for a room or apartment that you have never seen. When it would be time to actually visit the place, you would know that it was just a scam.
How To Avoid The Dorm Room Scam
- Make sure you involve your parents and let them deal with the person as they are more experienced.
- Never pay without seeing the place in person.
- Make sure the person you are dealing with is reliable.
Employment Scams for College Students
Employment scams were common in 2018 for college students. The targets were 18-25-year-olds. Offering a college student with an employment opportunity sounds lucrative but it can be a huge scam. They can ask too much information in the name of such employment opportunities. It is always best to do thorough research before providing any kind of information even if the job sounds great.
How To Avoid Employment Scams
- If the employer offers sounds too good to be true, it would probably be a scam.
- Do thorough research on the internet. Visit the official website of the company. Find the physical address and cross-check it on the Google Map.
- Go through the section of frequently asked questions.
- Make sure you don’t provide any personal information especially the social security number.
Advance Fee Scam
There is a possibility of receiving a scam call or email asking for an advance fee from the students. The college student might have enrolled in a certain program and can fall victim to such scams. Even if you are not sure, it is always best to double-check whether the phone call or the email you have received is genuine or not.
How To Avoid Advance Fee Scam
- It is better to cross-check by visiting the official website and checking the relevant rules, regulations related to the fee.
- You can get the number from the official website and ask directly.
It would be best to search for such information online. Nowadays, people openly discuss the scams and other things on the online forums that would give you an idea. It is always best to leave a comment yourself if you think you have been targeted as the potential victim of such a scam. It is better to take an active role to avoid such scams so that you can save others from becoming a victim too.
Online Scams
You are living in an era of modernization and information technology. The world has advanced to such an extent that it has taken the form of a global village. In this modernized age, online scams can be quite stressful. You post many videos, images, and posts online.
However, since we are living in an advanced era where everyone has access to phones, social media, and the internet there is a possibility that someone can blackmail you. They can claim to have your video or recording but don’t fall victim to such scams and inform your parents as soon as possible.
How To Avoid Online Scams
- Make sure you are not posting anything inappropriate anywhere especially on social media.
- If someone is trying to blackmail you involve your parents in the matter.
- Letting your elders and parents know about the situation would help you in this matter.
- Never fall victim to such scams or take a hasty decision based on what the scammer said.
Scam On Asking Personal Information
You must be aware of this kind of scam as someone would call you claiming to be a company or tax authority. This kind of scam is common not only for college students but for everyone. When someone is trying to ask your personal information, never provide it unless you are 100% sure.
How To Avoid Scam On Asking Personal Information
- Avoid visiting websites that ask for personal information unless you are confident of them.
- If someone is trying to extract information on the phone and it feels unusual, it would be best to excuse yourself or ignore the call.
- You can search for the number online and mostly such numbers are available online where people discuss how they have been scammed or received a call from a similar or the same number. It would be a good idea to leave your review or comment there as well.
Final Words
A naive college student might not be aware of the different college scams. But, this is life and it is unexpected. You as a college student or parent of a college student need to get information on such scams as you can fall a victim to these. Make sure you are following the appropriate measures and keeping yourself safe from all kinds of scams.