College Students Targeted by Scams as School Year Begins

As the new school year starts, the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns college students and parents about various scams. These include impostor scams via phishing emails from fake financial departments, fraudulent credit card offers, and misleading apartment listings. Identity theft remains a significant concern, with students advised to monitor their credit reports for unusual activity. Scholarship scams promising loan reductions or large grants are also prevalent. The BBB emphasizes the importance of verifying offers and checking listings in person before any financial transactions. Students are encouraged to report suspicious activities to the BBB Scam Tracker. The BBB provides tips for preventing identity theft, such as safeguarding sensitive documents and avoiding sharing banking information.

Key Points: • Scammers target college students with various schemes as the school year begins. • Common scams include phishing emails, fake credit card offers, and misleading apartment listings. • The BBB advises vigilance and verification of offers to prevent identity theft and financial loss.