Scams Aimed at College Students: Part 3: Job Hunters Become the Hunted

Submitted by Nathaniel Smith

Maybe you need  a job while you are still in school, or maybe you just graduated and you are looking for your first job, or maybe you’ve been out of school for a while and want a new job. Whatever the reason that you are searching, beware! Not everything is what it seems!

Scammers who prey on job hunters can make BIG BUCKS. They offer jobs with salaries that are "too-good-to-be-true" to lure you in. This is an attempt to steal your money or your personal information.

Scenario 1: Believe it or not, there are ”job offers” that require you to pay some kind of fee up-front, for one reason or another. One reason might be for a ”background check, another one could be for equipment or training. Never pay an upfront-fee to someone you do not really know.

Scenario 2: You’ve decided to hire a headhunter for help, so you find someone on Craigslist. Be careful! Check the company out with the BBB first, at bbb.org. Some scammers act like headhunters, pretending to help you find that perfect job, then they run with your money. A legitimate company often doesn not charge a job seeker for help finding a job, but instead is paid by the company that needs help filling the position.

Scenario 3: You posted your resume on a job posting website, and you receive an email about a great "job opportunity." The spam e-mail links directly to a website that installs malware on your computer. The link may take you to a website that asks for your personal information (usually your Social Security or back account numbers). Others may ask you to submit your resume, tell you that you’re hired, and then ask for your personal infomration. Let’s be clear: Legitimate employers may ask for your SSN for tax purposes and your bank account to deposit your check, but that’s after you’re hired and have started working for the company. You should be careful when you respond to unsolicited emails from ”employers” and DO NOT click links in the email until you have carefully vetted the company and know for sure that the email came from a legitimate source. 

With all that said, happy job hunting! May the hunt be good and the job offers plentiful.

Do you have any questions or concerns? Anything to contribute to the conversation? Feel free to leave a comment!

Scams Aimed at College Students Part 2: Den of (Identity) Thieves

Submitted by Nathaniel Smith

So, you or someone you know has made it past the trials and tribulations of finding a scholarship. Congratulations! Now you or that someone you know is on their way to college. But not so fast! College students are still targets for scammers, even after they’re enrolled. If you read titles, then you know where this is going. If not, then welcome to a crash course in identity theft aimed at college students. 

When I say identity theft, the first thing that comes to mind is credit cards… and maybe those credit report commercials. Hacks and security breaches happen all the time. Online purchases and having your card on file with businesses does leave your information vulnerable. Hacks occur regularly enough and the only real way to guard yourself is to keep up with your credit report, which you can do at www.annualcreditreport.com.

When it comes to passwords and security questions, don’t keep using the same ones across multiple accounts. Variety is the spice of life! (And the spice of not having all of your accounts hacked). Avoid using your name, birthday, child or pets name. The best passwords use upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. The best security questions avoid using things that can easily be found online (like your favorite ___________ (fill in the blank), pets name, birthdate, school you went to, etc.).

Your smartphone can open a whole can of security worms. First, password protect your phone and use security software to keep it safe. Apps can contain malware that allow thieves access to your information. Do your homework first and read reviews on apps before installing them. Only install apps from trusted, legitimate sources (i.e. Apple’s App store). In that same vein, free music and games can include a Trojan horse for malware. I guess everything does have a price. 

While some of our readers’ greatest fear is their mom finding them on social media, it can be a useful tool for thieves as well. Don’t use links that may be questionable; they could try to install malware on your device. And make sure you only add people you really know. That “friend” may not really be a friend, but a scam artist who hacked an account. It’s also a social media best practice to keep your privacy settings set so that strangers can’t see your information.

Scam artists also know that sex sells, so beware of sites offering nude photos (especially if they’re celebrities. You might get the pictures they claimed to have, but you will definitely be leaving with malware).

Public WiFi is another place where thieves will try to steal your information from laptops, tablets, and smartphones if you don’t have encryption and security software on your device. It’s like my dad always tells me: son, keep your software up-to-date.

Scammers, while they come up with new ways to get you, do rely on “oldies but goodies.” In this case, I mean email. Scammers will send what may appear to be legitimate emails from legitimate institutions that ask you to click a link. Such suspicious emails should be deleted immediately.

Of course, even with all of the electronic security in place, your personal information can still be stolen. Locking your checkbooks, credit card and bank statements, social security card, and any other personal information in a safe place will help ensure that your personal information stays personal. Additionally, monitor your financial accounts regularly and shred paperwork with personal information on it.

Do you have any questions or concerns? Anything to contribute to the conversation? Feel free to leave a comment! And stay tuned for the next installment: When Job Hunters Become the Hunted.

Blog Post: Scams Aimed at College Students: Part 1 Here’s a Scholarship... Psych!

Submitted by Nathaniel Smith

Even though the fall semester has just started, for many high schoolers and parents (and some college students), now’s the time to look for college scholarships. What few people realize is that not all scholarships are on the up-and-up.  Scammers would find away to prey on college students? Crazy, right? Well, if there’s a way to scam a vulnerable group, someone will figure it out. When it comes to college students, there’s a plethora of scams devised.

Welcome to the first part in the college scam warning series! Here’s a scholarship... PSYCH!

First and foremost, no legitimate scholarship application is guaranteed. All real grants or scholarships will have some kind of qualifications. They usually include performance, GPA, belonging to a club, or participation in extracurricular activities.

If someone that claims they have exclusive information or expertise, then beware. You can find free scholarship information everywhere. School libraries, all levels of government, the internet, and private companies all have free information on scholarships available to anyone who asks, so don’t be afraid to ask! Also, talk to your school counselor.

Any claims that you have earned, been selected for, or are a finalist for a scholarship or grant that you’ve never applied to, it’s another red flg. A scholarship doesn’t just fall into your lap! Even the lottery requires you to go out and get a ticket, why would a scholarship be any different? Grants and scholarships have to be pursued, go out and get ‘em!

Basically, do your homework. Get information from trusted sources and feel free to contact your local BBB at bbb.org or the Federal Trade Commission at 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4375)

Do you have any questions or concerns? Anything to contribute to the conversation? Feel free to leave a comment! And stay tuned for the next installment: Den of Identity Thieves or The Stolen Identity!

Give wisely with the BBB

Submitted by Nathaniel Smith

You know what feels good? Giving to charity. Nothing can give you the warm fuzzies faster than donating to a worthwhile cause. But with all the scams and fake charities out there siphoning off money from real ones? Well, have no fear, the BBB has you covered!

 I know, when you hear about the Better Business Bureau, charities typically don’t spring to mind, but your local BBB has a Charity Review Service, where we provide you with information on specific charities and wise giving practices to promote donations to our local charities. This service also aims to advise charities on meeting and maintaining high ethical standards of operation. 

Any charity that meets the Standards for Charity Accountability has a report created for it, which includes a summary of the charity’s mission statement, governance, key financial information, and activities. These are updated every two years, but we do offer charities the opportunity to review and comment on draft reports and update their report in between those two years. 

Basically, we also do for charities what we do for our businesses; we offer a chance to connect donors with charities and give donors a chance to check out charities before donating. Everyone wants to make sure they’re making a real difference and helping others, and with our help, everyone wins!

There are a lot of people out there that need help a lot of real organizations trying to help them. Donors: make sure your money is actually going to the cause you want to help with by checking with the BBB’s Charity Review. Charities: raise awareness for your organization and cause by accrediting your charity. If you’re a donor and want to know more or can’t find the charity you’re looking for on our site, call us at 502-588-0033. That same number works if you belong to a charity that would like to be recognized by the BBB. 

Are you all hungry for more information on our Charity review? Then this is a good place to start. You find whatever you want to know about the Charity Review, whether you’re a donor or charity. Did I miss something or do you have a question left unanswered? Don’t be shy, leave a comment! Hey, you can leave a comment even if you don’t have a question, all are welcome!

Customer Service is the #1 Key to Business Longevity

Nowadays, you hear a lot about what is the key to a successful business. Many will talk about fulfilling a need, offering a quality product, or effective marketing. These are all good points, and definitely necessary for a business to grow, but they overlook a crucial component: customer service. Admittedly, I have seen people mention that it is one of several keys and it gets a small blurb in an article (like here, here, here, and there), but I feel they fail to grasp how important it truly is.

Think about it, would you do business with someone with poor customer service? Would you want to hire someone that puts you on the back burner? That treats you like an inconvenience? I don’t care how good someone’s product or service is, I don’t want to work with a company that has or is known to have poor customer service. I’m sure many of you would agree (consumers in the audience, please feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comments). Whether you’re B2B or catering to the general public, how you treat your customers or clients is going to play a huge role in how long you stay in business.

Customer service is more than treating customers well when they have a complaint, though that is an important part. Good customer service begins from the first interaction; it means ensuring your customer or client’s needs are met. It means listening first, asking questions as needed, and finding how you can best serve them. Above all, treat the customer like a person, not your next paycheck. They know and appreciate the difference; that’s the easiest way to make your company stand out from your competition!

I wouldn’t dare say that you don’t need to worry about marketing or advertising (you do), or that offering a good product or service isn’t necessary (because, of course it is!), but attracting new customers alone won’t keep you afloat forever. It’s completely, absolutely, 100% percent necessary to retain existing customers. And hey, if they help advertise and endorse you, that’s even better!

Did I overlook anything? Do you have a differing opinion or want to expand upon what I posted? Please feel free to comment and let us know what’s on your mind. You can learn more about the Better Business Bureau or find the kind of businesses you want to hire at bbb.org.