(KIWA Staff Photo)Iowa (RI) — College students heading into a new school year should be on guard against scams delivered through emails, text messages, phone calls, and even traditional mail.
Lisa Schiller of the Better Business Bureau says scammers often target college freshmen because they are on their own for the first time.
Schiller says parents should prep their students by discussing common scams involving credit cards, housing, and financial aid.
She says criminals can tailor their usual scams to better lure in college students.
That’s an imposter scam, a common tactic used by criminals. Schiller says students who receive those messages should contact their school’s offices directly using known phone numbers or official websites rather than any contact information provided in the message.
She also recommends researching unfamiliar companies that contact students.
Another red flag is any unsolicited promise of free money or loan assistance.
Students who encounter suspected scams are encouraged to report them to the Better Business Bureau or the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
