Sending your child off to college can have its own set of worries. Watch for these scams as reported in www.MyCreditUnion.gov:
Scholarship Scams
Many scholarship search sites are disguised as tools to help students find financial aid, but are traps set to lure in the vulnerable and hopeful. A site that asks for personal information should be regarded with suspicion. Many will ask for an email address only to sell that address and pump it full of spam. You also should never pay for a service that helps you find or apply for scholarships.
Social Media Scams
Here, scam artists feed on unsuspecting students via social media. One technique involves scammers setting up fake pages for universities and reaching out to the students to acquire email addresses. Phony pages and profiles are created to harvest personal information. To avoid these scams, add only friends you know, limit the information you post online, and be wary of invitations to “like” pages.
Identity Theft
Imposters can use your information to make unwarranted purchases, open phony accounts, and sign up for services. However, avoiding identity theft is simple: Guard your personal information. Make purchases only from websites you trust. Limit the information you post on social media. Don’t list email addresses or phone numbers. Never divulge information that seems unnecessary or gratuitous.
Credit Card Rip-Offs
Be wary of signing up for cards from issuers you’re not familiar with–and not only credit cards, but with prepaid debit cards as well. You risk the chance of relaying information to a phony lender and potential identity thief. Read more at www.mycreditunion.gov.
Source:
https://www.mycreditunion.gov/Pages/pocket-cents-going-to-collegecommon-college-scams.aspx.
