BBB warns students about scammers

Even though Lorain County Community College students are not on campus, scammers are finding ways to get to them.

The new scam, according to the Better Business Bureau, crooks are pretending to be from the school’s Financial Aid Department.

The scammers will send an email with a link to information on the COVID-19 stimulus check.

Once the link is opened, students will have to provide personal information, which is stolen by scammers.

“Scamming destroys people not only financially but it also affects their home life,” said April, an LCCC student who received such emails and doesn’t want to reveal her last name.

“People send a lot of money that there is a sense of shame.”

Richard Eppstein, president of the BBB serving Northwestern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan, said, “Crooks advertise that they have a system to get relief for your student loan.”

Another issue Eppstein uncovered was internet advertisements.

“Students are often looking for ways to make extra money,” he said. “They see ads for part-time jobs, many of which are scams.”

The ploy by scammers gets through to too many students, April agreed.

“If you have to pay for scholarship information, it usually is a scam,” she said.

The BBB recommends students who are trying to get student loan-help to reach out to the agency or bank in which their loans are held.

It eliminates the risk of a scam.

As a precaution, the BBB urges students to be careful accepting payment from an unknown source.

There are counterfeit checks circling around that can cause more debt.

April, who almost fell victim to the scam, advises others to “question everything you are told that is not through a reliable source or person.”

The BBB reports that employment scams are the number one aimed at people of ages 18-25.

The BBB provides tips to help students avoid scams. They include:

• Do your research when applying for credit cards and loans

• Check your credit report for any unauthorized

• Use caution when meeting people online

• Do not apply for offers that are “too good to be true.