Beware, Scammers Are Near

Your college years will most likely be the time in your life when you will be exposed to the most opportunities. From scholarships to internship opportunities, and everything in between, committing to higher education and being associated with a university or college grants you access to a special door of opportunities. However, as these good tokens head your way, it's important to stay vigilant as scammers are also on the bay.

As a college student myself (especially during my first year) I have fallen for some of the scams that come through my email, but luckily, no harm ensued. And now as a junior, spotting a scam has become easier by the day. So, here are some tips on how to avoid falling victim to what might seem like a great opportunity:

1. Emails from individuals without credentials: oftentimes, you can spot a scam simply by the source it is coming from. Emails for job offers or other opportunities that are sent by some random person who does not identify who they are in terms of their position in whatever company they are trying to represent is a major red flag, as most legitimate people will try to build their credibility at the first interaction.

2. Too good to be true: sometimes it is our desire to get more than we deserve that gets us into certain trouble. If you see a job offer that claims to pay really well in comparison to the work you will be doing given your education status (ex: not having a degree yet, etc.) and work experience, plus has little to no requirements, then chances are it is a scam and that you should look elsewhere.

3. Sending info over email: scammers are usually trying to get something off of you. Whether it is something that might seem insignificant like your email or something more serious like your bank information and social security number, being told to send personal information via email, text, or call is often a sign that you are about to be scammed.

While there are ways to identify illegitimate opportunities, scammers these days are getting better and better at making them seem legitimate. So, don’t forget to also use your gut feelings because sometimes there isn’t anything blatantly wrong with something but something just might be off and your body can sense it.