State Division of Consumer Protections Shares Safety & Scam Prevention Tips for College Students

With the college fall semester approaching, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protections (NYDSDCP) has shared tips aimed to help students avoid being scammed and begin their higher education right.

Students are urged to protect themselves from identity theft and to avoid common scholarship, tuition, and internship fraud. The required paperwork for financial aid is only available through the Free Application Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and those who offer guarantees or pre-approvals for loans are more than likely lying. It is also likely that any company asking for a fee that will progress you through an internship or interview process is a likely scam. Scammers also often pose as book sellers, credit card agencies or landlords who solicit for money; these are more commonly seen as email and phone scams. 

“Whether living away from home for the first time, navigating financial aid or building credit, students are often in new situations that make them vulnerable to potential scams,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Before heading back to campus, I urge students and their parents or caregivers to learn about the simple, but important, steps to take to help prevent identity theft, common scams and other safety risks that come with living on campus.”

College students should use these precautions to keep themselves from falling victim to identity theft. By practicing online safety – most importantly, keeping personal information like passwords and addresses to themselves – the fresh semester should kick off without a hitch.