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USA Today
18-02-2025
- USA Today
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 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 and the FTC at 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
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Finding the right tax preparer: BBB offers tips to help you file this year
Jan Diaz South Bend Tribune While many will choose to use an app or purchase tax software to complete and submit their own tax forms, others are in search of some extra help in the form of a tax return preparation service or a tax consultant. How do you know when to get help with your taxes? Significant life changes, business ownership, or simply a lack of knowledge about the ever-changing tax laws can make finding a trustworthy tax preparer a good idea. Just like choosing an expert to put a roof on your home is probably a better idea than tackling it yourself, sometimes it just makes sense to hire a professional. A professional tax preparer is not only familiar with tax laws and how to file but can also help navigate things like deductions, tax credits, and whether a married couple should file jointly or separately. In addition, a BBB Accredited tax preparer has agreed to uphold the BBB standards to tell the truth, honor promises and be transparent – and most importantly, when dealing with personal information: to safeguard your privacy. Find the loan that's right for you: Best personal loans That said, not all tax preparers have the same level of experience and training. Here are tips for finding someone you can trust with your finances and sensitive personal information. First, it's essential to understand the different types of tax preparers and their qualifications. While all the types listed below can prepare your taxes, only enrolled agents, certified public accountants, and tax attorneys may represent their clients to the IRS on matters such as audits, collection issues, and appeals. Tax preparers: Thousands of people work as tax preparers in the United States. Some are full-time workers, and others work part-time or only during the tax season. These preparers must have an active preparer tax identification number (PTIN) through the IRS. Beyond the PTIN, regulating tax preparers is done at the state level. Check with your state's department of taxation or revenue to learn more. Most tax preparers are legitimate and competent, but keep in mind that without a national license requirement, they may be working off of their research and experience. Because of this, you should conduct a thorough interview with the tax preparer before hiring them. Enrolled Agent (EA): An EA is a tax preparer approved by the IRS to represent taxpayers. An EA must either have prior qualifying employment with the IRS or pass a comprehensive IRS test on individual and business tax returns. To maintain EA status, they must complete several credit hours of continuing education courses in accounting methods and tax regulations. An EA may work independently or as part of a firm and specialize in specific areas of tax law. An EA may be a good option if you have a more complex tax situation. However, you'll want to make sure their area of expertise applies to your personal situation. An EA is also qualified to help you with financial planning and give you tips that could help you reduce your taxes in the future. Certified Public Accountants (CPA): CPAs are licensed after passing a state professional qualifying exam. They are highly skilled in accounting. These skills and qualifications make them good candidates for complex tax planning and preparation ifthey have experience in handling tax matters and they enroll in continuing education programs that keep them abreast of the constant changes to tax laws. If your return is quite complex, a CPA may be your best choice for tax preparation. Tax returns 2025:Tax help is easier than ever to find online. Should you file them yourself or pay a pro? Tax attorneys: A tax attorney helps their clients with legal issues related to taxes. They can represent individuals or businesses. Hiring a tax attorney is a good option for taxpayers looking to shelter part of their income legally or for those needing specialized advice on municipal bonds, estate planning, and the like. A tax attorney can also represent clients in tax court and draft appropriate legal documents. How to choose the right tax preparer: Choosing the right kind of tax preparer for you will depend on the complexity of your tax situation. After you've decided what qualifications your tax preparer needs, the following tips will help you choose someone trustworthy and competent: • Review the tax preparer's credentials. EAs, CPAs, and tax attorneys are qualified to represent their clients to the IRS on all matters. Other preparers can help you with forms and basic matters but cannot represent you in case of an audit. Don't be afraid to ask about these or other qualifications before you hire someone. • Be wary of spectacular promises. If a tax preparer promises you larger refunds than the competition, this is a red flag. Some tax preparers base their fees on the amount of your return and may be likely to use shady tax preparation tactics. In addition, you might want to avoid tax preparers who offer "refund anticipation loans" as you could lose a large percentage of your return to commission fees. Read the fine print! • Get referrals from friends and family – and BBB. One of the best ways to find a trustworthy tax preparer is to ask your loved ones for recommendations, and another is to check your Better Business Bureau. Check paying careful attention to other consumers' reviews or complaint details. This research will give you a clear view of what you can expect. • Think about availability. If the IRS finds errors in your tax forms or decides to perform an audit, will your tax preparer be available to help you with the details? Find out whether you can contact the tax preparer year-round or only during tax season. • Ask about fees ahead of time. Before you agree to any services, read the contracts carefully and understand how much the tax preparer charges for their services. Ask about extra fees for e-filing state, federal, and local returns and fees for any unexpected complications. • If things don't add up, find someone else. If a tax preparer can't verify their credentials, has a record of bad reviews from previous clients, or their business practices don't seem convincing, don't do business with them. Remember that if you hire them, this individual will handle your sensitive personal information – information you need to keep safe from corrupt or fraudulent tax preparers. 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 and the FTC at 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
