As summer vacation ends this month and schools begin again in many suburbs, the Better Business Bureau is warning parents and students to protect themselves from back-to-school scams.
Daily Herald archive photo
It’s a back-to-school tradition: Children line up in new clothes, with full backpacks and big smiles, while their parents take a photo to celebrate the end of summer and the return to school.
However, you should think twice before posting these photos on social media, warns the Better Business Bureau.
“Every student is potentially at risk, from preschoolers to college graduates,” Steve J. Bernas, president and CEO of the BBB, said in an alert this week. “Threats include identity theft, financial loss and even safety concerns. It’s important that parents and children remain vigilant.”
Although it seems harmless at first glance, the BBB points out that back-to-school photos often feature children holding a sign with their name, grade, school and other personal information.
Scammers could use this information to steal the student’s identity or gain their trust. Or they could use it against others, such as in the so-called “grandparent” phone scam, where scammers pretend to have a child in trouble to trick grandparents or relatives into sending money.
According to the BBB, parents should also be careful not to include addresses or school names in the background of a photo.
“The good news is that technology also offers products that can help with safety,” Bernas said. “Parents can explore the devices and apps available to track their child’s location and monitor what they see online. One product even lets you see your child’s email. Another blocks inappropriate material.”
According to the BBB, it’s not just younger students who need to be protected. College and graduate students can fall victim to fake credit card offers and tuition scams, the latter of which includes fake text messages, emails or phone messages claiming to be from the dean’s office or the treasurer’s office demanding payment.
