BBB warns college students of targeted scams as fall semester begins

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — This month college students returned to campuses across the country, and as they get back into the swing of being in the classroom they may be looking at scholarships or grants, or even test prep help.

Now the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning students to be on the lookout for scams, which could not only hurt them financially but can also impact students' academic progress and future careers.

Cinthya Lavin with the Better Business Bureau says this age group is very susceptible to falling victim to scams.

“It's really been on the rise in the last few years. College students get targeted because they know they're a vulnerable group,” said Lavin. “They're really getting their footing out in the door. So it is important for those that are embarking on to the venture of college to make sure that they are very aware of who they talk to online and about sharing their online and for their personal information.”

The scams range all over the place from scholarships and grants, fake credit cards, apartments, online shopping, and even test preparation.

According to Lavin, one of the most common scams they see is with jobs, especially with 'secret shopping' or online surveys.

“They have to be very careful because a lot of these companies really don't exist and they're just trying to get your personal and financial information. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” said Lavin.

Lavin says they also see several students fall victim to scholarship or grant scams.

“Anything that asks you for a fee to process an application is an illegitimate scholarship or grant. All these things are free of charge through nonprofits. So be very careful where you apply and you enter that financial information,” said Lavin.

Palm Beach Atlantic University sophomore, Melany Rivera tells CBS12 News she’s always mindful about any information she receives.

“Through my regular email, I will get a lot of information. Even my Facebook, you know, in the area that I'm living in, I will get a lot of notifications that I've seen, like, oh, this might be a possibility that somebody else can fall into this trap,” said Rivera.

Rivera says while she hasn’t fallen victim to any of these scams, one of her friends did when they tried to buy something online.

“My friend tried to buy a surfboard, and he Venmoed the person some money, and then when they went to go pick it up. They were just nowhere to be found,” said Rivera.

Lavin says it’s crucial that students know about these scams.

She says a majority of the ones reported to the BBB are from students who learned their lesson too late.

And if you do see something you think is a scam, report it so you can help someone else before they fall victim.

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