Financial scams that seek college students the way great white sharks seek seals are back in the news again. Some scams are tried and true; some are new. Whichever one comes after you, don’t take the bait.
For an update on scams to watch out for, read Kim Clark’s article, “6 Scams That Target College Students,” over at U.S. News & World Report. She provides an interesting refresher on who sees you their favorite prey.
The scams that really stand out are the ones that try to reel you in with scary letters. These official-looking mail advertisements and letters use dramatic and urgent come-ons to make you think you could be in trouble, somehow. (Sounds similar to the email you get from financial frauds, illegally using your own bank’s real logo in the email to trick you into thinking there’s a real problem with your account.)
Any mail or email that claims you have to “Act now!” and “Before It’s Too Late” because “Time is Running Out,” but all you have to do is hand over some money, should be treated with caution. If you’re wondering if the mail you’ve received could be legitimate, talk to the financial aid advisors at your school.
And just because it’s Friday, here’s a gem on scams from the Federal Trade Commission…
