BBB Urges College Students to Watch for Scams

As students head back to college, the Better Business Bureau of Northeast Georgia is offering some tips for students to keep in mind to avoid scams.

Better Business Bureau Spokesperson Dottie Callina said that there are several scams that target college students specifically.

She said perhaps the biggest one is the roommate or rental scam.

“Going to college the first time, a lot of people do not want to live in the dorm so they want to search for roommates and especially using Craigslist, there will be posts of people who want to be your roommate, but they are actually fake and out of the country, but they say they can provide the rent up front in the form of a money order,” said Callina.

However, Callina said when the victim receives the money order, it is higher than the amount requested and the victim is asked to cash it and wire back the overage.

She said that is a scam.

Callina said another problem on college campuses can be identity theft.

“When you are in college, you are meeting with people,” said Callina. “You may have your personal information like your drivers’ license, student ID, maybe even a debit or credit card lying in a place where several people can see it. You do not know these people. I am not saying they are bad people, but you need to safeguard your information with your life or you might become a victim of identity theft. Also, beware of online solicitation, e-mails, social media sites, or phone calls asking for your personal information.”

Callina said people should never give out personal information to someone they do not know.

Meanwhile, scams are not the only thing to watch out for on a college campus.

According to Callina, credit card offers are everywhere in college.

She said students need to be careful.

“It is important to build credit, but it is more important to maintain good credit,” said Callina. “A lot of college students do not know that when applying for jobs, they can check your credit report. Make sure that if you get a credit card, it is only one and you pay it off every month and do not use it to go to restaurants or do not use it for anything you cannot tangibly hold in your hand.”

Finally, Callina said that schools are cracking down on websites that try to aid students in cheating by selling term papers and test questions and answers.

“They need to know that universities are increasingly using new software that can track down these fake websites and spy cameras to track down dishonest students,” said Callina.

For more information on any of these topics, go online to bbb.org/atlanta.