
Knowledgeable scammers are tricking parents into paying for bogus SAT/ACT prep materials
Jan Diaz
Special to USA TODAY NETWORK
Hear this story
Scammers are posing as representatives of the College Board to defraud parents.
The Better Business Bureau advises consumers to be wary of unsolicited calls from people claiming to be with the College Board.
The College Board emphasizes that they never solicit bank or credit card details over the phone or email.
For high school students, SAT and ACT scores are a huge deal. With college admissions and scholarships on the line, paying for tutors and test prep materials may be worth the price. But watch out for con artists eager to take advantage of this. Scammers — with access to kids' names and school information — are tricking parents into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials. This is how the scam works:
You get an unsolicited call from a person claiming to be from the College Board, the company responsible for the PSAT, SAT and AP tests, or another educational organization. The caller claims to be confirming your address, so they can send test prep materials, such as books, CDs, or videos, that your child requested at school.
It seems so believable! Several people reported to BBB Scam Tracker that the caller even had their child's name, phone number, address, school information, and/or the date and location of their child's scheduled test.
Of course, there's a catch. The caller needs you to pay a deposit, sometimes several hundred dollars, for the materials. They claim it will be refunded when the materials are returned after a set number of days. Unfortunately, if you provide your address and credit card details, the materials will never arrive, and your deposit will never be refunded. Scammers now have your credit card number and other personal information.
In a recent BBB Scam Tracker report, a consumer reported, "He called saying he was college prep for SAT and ACT. He said everything was free of charge and I just needed to put a card down so they have one in the books but when I gave her my card, it declined because I didn't have enough cash on there, so he did not take any money due to insufficient funds, but I am just reporting the scam."
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Finding the right tax preparer:BBB offers tips to help you file this year
In another BBB Scam Tracker report, a consumer shared, 'Caller, Carson, stated my son had requested SAT prep materials through College Board student services. He had my address, my son's name, date and location of the SAT test my son is scheduled to take. Caller stated they needed parental permission prior to sending documents and that I needed to give him a credit card number for collateral.
'We would be sent the college SAT prep materials; the materials would be free of charge for 30 days and we would need to return the materials in the envelope provided and my card wouldn't be charged. The caller stated they send email reminders prior to the return deadline and will send shipping confirmation once the material package is mailed out. My card was charged $249.95 instantly.'
Another consumer shared on BBB Scam Tracker, 'I received a call from Brad [redacted] with College Prep Tutors. Stated that my daughter (knew her name) had requested ACT and SAT study prep materials. He said that they would be sent out via USPS and were free if returned within 30 days but needed to charge my card to initiate the process, and that it would be refunded upon return of the USB materials. He sounded very legitimate and provided a confirmation number. I should have looked further before committing as this appears to be a scam.' This consumer reported losing $250.
How to avoid test prep scams
• Always be wary of unsolicited callers. If someone calls out of the blue asking for payment, always research their organization before you share personal information or agree to receive services or products. Look up the business they claim to represent at BBB.org. Search the name along with the words 'scam' or 'complaint' to find out if others had negative experiences. Check BBB Scam Tracker to see if anyone else has filed a report about the company.
• Double check with your child. If scammers say they are calling because of a service your child requested, tell them you need to check with your child first and hang up. Make sure their claims are legitimate before you call back or accept a return call. Don't send any money or make a payment if there is any doubt about the call. The same is true for emergency scams.
• Understand the College Board's practices. The College Board will never ask you for bank or credit card information over the phone or via email. If a caller suggests otherwise, hang up. Learn more about the College Board's policies.
• Don't give your financial information to strangers. Never agree to pay a stranger for a purchase you did not initiate, with any form of payment. Do not provide details about your credit card, debit card, bank account number, prepaid cards or digital wallet, such as Cash App or Venmo, and do not wire money. While some forms of payment, such as credit cards, may offer more protections and a chance for a refund, it is still dangerous to share your private financial information with an unfamiliar person.
For more information and to learn how to protect yourself, Google 'BBB 10 Steps to Avoid Scams.' If you spot a scam, whether you have lost money or not, report it to BBB's Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your story can help protect consumers from similar scams.
Jan Diaz is the President/CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Indiana, which serves 23 counties. Contact the BBB at 800-552-4631 or visit www.bbb.org.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US reports another arrest of Chinese scientist with no permit to send biological material
DETROIT (AP) — A Chinese scientist was arrested while arriving in the U.S. at the Detroit airport, the second case in days involving the alleged smuggling of biological material, authorities said Monday. The scientist is accused of shipping biological material months ago to staff at a laboratory at the University of Michigan. The FBI, in a court filing, described it as material related to certain worms and requires a government permit. 'The guidelines for importing biological materials into the U.S. for research purposes are stringent, but clear, and actions like this undermine the legitimate work of other visiting scholars,' said John Nowak, who leads field operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The scientist was interviewed and arrested Sunday after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan. Her shipments, including an envelope stuffed inside a book, were intercepted last year and earlier this year and opened by authorities, the FBI said. The court filing doesn't indicate whether the FBI believes the biological material was dangerous, though U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said smuggling "threatens our security." The government last week charged two Chinese scientists who are accused of conspiring to smuggle a toxic fungus into the U.S. One was turned around at the Detroit airport and sent back to China last year, while the other, a researcher at the University of Michigan, was arrested. She remains in custody.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tennessee prison riot contained after several hours; 3 inmates and 1 guard injured
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Inmates at a Tennessee prison sought to destroy property, compromised security cameras and set a few fires during a riot that took several hours to contain and caused minor injuries to three inmates and one guard, the facility's private operator said. On Sunday evening, a large group of inmates at Trousdale Turner Correctional Center from several housing units left their cells and accessed an inner yard, becoming 'disruptive and confrontational' and refusing to follow the staff's directions, according to CoreCivic spokesperson Ryan Gustin. The prison in Hartsville, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Nashville, is the subject of an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation. One correctional officer was assaulted and released from the hospital. Three inmates were being treated for minor injuries, Gustin said. The prison's staff used chemical agents on the inmates, who were secured by early Monday morning. They did not reach the perimeter and state troopers and local law enforcement officers were positioned outside the facility. The Tennessee Highway Patrol deployed about 75 troopers and the agency remained on site overnight until 'every prisoner had been accounted for,' Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security spokesperson Jason Pack said. The prison remained on lockdown while CoreCivic and the Tennessee Department of Correction investigate the riot, Gustin said. The incident followed an assault by two Trousdale inmates Saturday that injured a correctional officer who remains at the hospital, Gustin said. Last August, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an investigation into the Trousdale prison after years of 'reports of physical assaults, sexual assaults, murders and unchecked flow of contraband and severe staffing shortages,' according to then-U.S. Attorney Henry Leventis. The department confirmed Monday the investigation remains ongoing. Tennessee's corrections agency has fined CoreCivic $37.7 million across four prisons since 2016, including for understaffing violations. Records obtained by The Associated Press also show the company has spent more than $4.4 million to settle about 80 lawsuits and out-of-court complaints alleging mistreatment — including at least 22 inmate deaths — at four Tennessee prisons and two jails since 2016. The state comptroller released scathing audits in 2017, 2020 and 2023. The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company has defended itself by pointing to industry-wide problems with hiring and keeping workers. CoreCivic has said it offers hiring incentives and strategically backfills with workers from other facilities nationally. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee's administration has stood by CoreCivic. However, the Republican-led Legislature this year showed its concern by unanimously passing a bill that would move 10% of inmates out of a private prison each time the annual death rate is twice as high as a comparable state-run facility. Lee signed the legislation. Department of Correction spokesperson Sarah Gallagher said the agency is developing a procedure to calculate and report the death rate for 2025 under the new law. The legislation was spurred by the advocacy of Tim Leeper, a roofing businessman who has attended the same local Rotary Club as the two Republicans who ultimately sponsored the bill, Rep. Clark Boyd and Sen. Mark Pody. Leeper's son Kylan was an inmate at Trousdale when he died of a fentanyl overdose. His family has sued CoreCivic over his death.


Hamilton Spectator
31 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
US reports another arrest of Chinese scientist with no permit to send biological material
DETROIT (AP) — A Chinese scientist was arrested while arriving in the U.S. at the Detroit airport, the second case in days involving the alleged smuggling of biological material, authorities said Monday. The scientist is accused of shipping biological material months ago to staff at a laboratory at the University of Michigan. The FBI, in a court filing, described it as material related to certain worms and requires a government permit. 'The guidelines for importing biological materials into the U.S. for research purposes are stringent, but clear, and actions like this undermine the legitimate work of other visiting scholars,' said John Nowak, who leads field operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The scientist was interviewed and arrested Sunday after arriving on a flight from China, where she is pursuing an advanced degree at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. She planned to spend a year completing a project at the University of Michigan. Her shipments, including an envelope stuffed inside a book, were intercepted last year and earlier this year and opened by authorities, the FBI said. The court filing doesn't indicate whether the FBI believes the biological material was dangerous, though U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. said smuggling 'threatens our security.' The government last week charged two Chinese scientists who are accused of conspiring to smuggle a toxic fungus into the U.S. One was turned around at the Detroit airport and sent back to China last year, while the other, a researcher at the University of Michigan, was arrested. She remains in custody. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .