Fake jobs, fake scholarships: The traps students fall for every fall

USA, — College students are moving into their dorms and starting classes this week.

From joining student groups to searching for scholarships, students have many reasons to share personal information. But consumer reporter John Matarese warns there are times they should not — so they don’t waste their money.

It’s move-in time for college students, with classes already underway at some schools. But as freshmen and returning students settle in, experts say it’s critical to stay alert for scams.

“I got a lot of bots on my Instagram account that say they want me to pose for a mural.”

“It just says you could win like a thousand dollars, 5-thousand-dollar scholarship if you sign up with certain links.”

These pitches are common, and they’re designed to get students to share personal or financial information.

College students headed back to campus have a lot of reasons to hand out their information. That’s why it’s so important they know the difference between a real offer and a scam.

Josh Planos with the Better Business Bureau says offers to become an influencer or brand ambassador can sound like a quick way to make money, but there’s a catch.

“Typically, what we see is that someone receives an unsolicited message from someone who is alleging to represent a brand or an organization,” Planos said. “That’s the time where you need to turn around and leave.”

If a company asks for payment up front, requires you to buy a product, or is a brand you’ve never heard of, experts say that’s a red flag.

As the semester begins, students are also warned to watch out for:

• Fake scholarships promising easy money.
• Phony apartment listings targeting students desperate for housing.
• Credit card offers designed to capture personal data.
• Online shopping scams with too-good-to-be-true deals.

Planos says students should research any company and ask what the brand actually stands for.

Caleb Crater, a student, admits it can be hard to ignore offers that promise quick attention online.

“Everybody is trying to get famous,” he said.

That desire for likes and followers makes students a prime target for scam artists.

Matarese stresses that families should remind their college students to stay alert. Opportunities to make money or gain attention online may look tempting — but too often, they’re scams.

So you don’t waste your money.

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