Back To School Scam: Tuition Fee

 

Tuition Fee Scam: How the Scam Works

Are you a student ready to go back to school or a parent waiting for his/her children to start their education? If yes, beware of a new scam going around this week, which is targeting those who are dealing with tuition fees these days. It adds itself to the list of fraudulent activities related to the educational system, including the scholarship scams and the fake universities and colleges.

Let's look at the following scenario — your phone rings. The caller – who recommends herself as a secretary/admin at the school – says you owe money for the tuition fee. It sounds official, so you pay close attention as you just spent some money. The person informs you that your loan or credit card payment didn't go through. Alternatively, it says that your scholarship or grant you were supposed to receive was canceled. So how does the scam work?

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Watch the video below to see the Back to School Scam exposed:

Scholarship/Grant Scam Exposed Video

Let's continue, but first, let's see why the scam works for criminals. They look for their victims on social media, where many parents and students post different images and comments related to the school kick-off. In this case, there is no surprise that when the victims receive the call, they relate to the situation. Now let's go back to the call and the crook informing the payment wasn't accepted by the institution.

As the school starts very soon, the caller says that "the administration can't afford to lose any student spots". As a result, you are required to pay instantly whatever the scammer tells the final amount was. Otherwise, the caller says the student (you, your child) will be dropped from their classes. Next, she gives you guidelines on how to wire the cash or even drop off the money, obviously to somebody who has nothing to do with your student's school.

In a different variation of the scam, the pitch is reversed. While knowing your real name and email address, the caller will claim to be having good news in regards to a scholarship or grant that will help your tuition fee payment. 

Back To School: Tuition Fee Scam: How To Avoid

Ask the caller as many questions as you can about the school, to find out from the beginning if she is a fake, as sometimes students receive legitimate calls from schools. Tell her also that you have to get the bill in composing – not through email, but rather by strolling into the real school offices. Call the Police and give them the number you are called from.

While students will be dropped from classes for non-installment, it doesn't occur without any forethought, and the school ought to rapidly have the capacity to check past due bills. Besides, no school will instruct you to send the installments using Western Union.

 

Back To School: Tuition Fee Scam: How To Report

Make your family and friends aware of the Tuition Fee scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:

Report Scammers To The FTC Here

 

How to protect yourself more:

If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.

 

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