The Office of Attorney General is warning parents and students that scammers often try to take advantage of back-to-school shoppers by posing as online vendors or assistants for financial aid. Follow these tips to protect yourself:
- Watch the websites you visit. Be mindful that the first result on a search engine isn’t always the best choice; it is just that the website paid to be the first result.
- Be wary of a deal that seems too good to be true. Be sure to thoroughly check sellers and product reviews on websites like Amazon, eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
- Many installment plans come with hidden fees and other fine print.
- Be wary of sellers asking for payment in gift cards, money orders, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, especially over the phone. Use your credit cards when possible.
- Keep your personal data safe.
In addition to posing as sellers of school supplies, scammers can also attempt to steal your personal information by impersonating financial aid services or test preparation companies. If someone is offering to “assist” you with financial aid or tests, but is pressuring you to act quickly or overpromising, they could be attempting to steal your personal information. The best website to obtain information about federal student aid is www.studentaid.gov.