Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is warning college students to be aware of scams. The Attorney General’s Office issued this advice as part of the third annual Off to College Consumer Protection Week.
Students are advised to be aware of scams using university email accounts to offer fake employment opportunities.
The FBI has previously warned of email scams circulating around college campuses offering “work from home” opportunities.
“Many students want the chance to make money while going to school,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “I applaud their initiative, but urge them to be careful and guard against anything too good to be true.”
The scammer may send students unsolicited emails offering them jobs with links to apply for the position. However that link may lead them to websites that ask for bank account numbers and other personal information claiming it is needed to be paid. The “employer” also may ask for money to be transferred to a third account.
Students put themselves at great risk of identity theft by giving away their financial information. Such schemes also can be used to launder money.
A legitimate employer would not ask for financial account information. Never accept a job that requires depositing and wiring money between different accounts. The company and email address should be researched online before answering any offer of potential employment. Make sure both the company and the sender are legitimate.
Students should look out for obvious red flags such as improper grammar, punctuation and sentence structure. These are signs that the emails are computer generated scams. A genuine employment opportunity would be professional and spell checked.
Another area of concern is housing. “College is often the first time students are faced with renting or leasing a home or apartment,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “It’s important to have good information while navigating in unfamiliar territory.”
Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Ask about the area, the neighbors and the response time for repairs. Make sure utility, maintenance and all other costs are adequately represented. Also talk to current tenants about their living experience and look for door/window locks and smoke detectors. Read the lease or contract carefully before signing. Know its terms and negotiate any problematic provision. Make sure to document in writing any promised repairs before the move-in date as well as any problems or requests after move in.
Review and know any instance that may trigger an early release, such as eviction due to breaking a lease provision, a negotiated termination provision, a mutual cancellation and the ability to sublet the apartment to a new tenant. Be aware a tenant who leaves or is evicted before the end of the lease can still be responsible for rent due through the end of the term. However, if the landlord is able to rent the apartment to someone else, the former tenant will be responsible only for the portion of rent due while the apartment was empty.
West Virginia law requires a landlord to make a reasonable effort to re-rent the apartment if a tenant moves out before the end of the lease term, but it is ultimately the individual’s responsibility to find someone to take over the reminder of the lease.
Identity theft is another big area of scam. When many students leave for college, it is the first time they may be responsible for their own finances, a reality that makes them vulnerable to scams. They should be wary if a website, salesperson or any other unsolicited communication asks for their personal information.
Social media also has presented scammers with new ways to reach victims. Students should be suspicious of any private messages they receive from people they don’t know, as well as messages and posts that offer deals too good to be true. Those living in shared living spaces, such as dorms, need a password to protect their devices. Students should never share personal information or keep it on display. It is recommended students choose a safe location for important documents and avoid carrying them.
Billing statements or other sensitive mail should be shredded or kept secure as each document represents an easy way for scammers to steal personal information. The Attorney General also encourages college students to download firewalls, anti-spyware and anti-virus software on their computers to protect their important files and school work from hackers.
Finally, Patrick Morrisey urges students and parents to be cautious when pursuing scholarships. Rising seniors and current college students applying for scholarships need to be cautious of any scam that exploits those looking for help with the ever increasing costs of tuition and housing.
“Scholarships are major accomplishments for students,” Morrisey said. “There are many legitimate scholarships meant to award academic ability and talent. But there are also websites and organizations looking to manipulate families paying for college.”
Scholarship matching services represent a popular scam and involve websites that guarantee or claim to find qualifying scholarships for a fee. Other websites may require money to access its scholarship resources. Parents and students should be wary of both as online databases and websites exist for free. Students should research scholarships before applying by talking to a guidance counselor, academic adviser or the offering group to verify the scholarships is legitimate. It is important to determine the specific terms or conditions with any accepted offer.
Those seeking assistance should also fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually to receive federal and West Virginia aid. For information and to apply for West Virginia scholarships, such as PROMISE, go to www.cfwv.com.
To learn about all consumer protection efforts in West Virginia, visit www.ago.wv.gov/consumerprotection.