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Recently, we heard about scams targeting parents of high school students preparing for college. The scammers claim to be from The College Board – the organization responsible for the PSAT and SAT tests. They call or email you, asking for credit card numbers so they can send PSAT prep materials that the student has supposedly requested. Often the scammers have the student’s name, address and phone number – making them seem more believable. Except your student didn’t ask for materials, and it’s not this group calling.

Here are some tips to avoid a test prep scam.

  • The College Board will never ask you to give credit card, bank account or password information over the phone or via email.
  • Make sure the company offering test prep materials is legitimate. How? Before you give up your money or personal information, research the company online. Search for their name plus the word “scam” or “complaint.” See about other people’s experiences. And talk to someone you trust, like another parent or your child’s school counselor, before you pay.
  • Consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in – meaning that, if you find out you paid a scammer, you may be able to get your money back if you report it quickly. And if anyone asks you to pay by wiring money or by using a reloadable card or gift card, it’s a scam.

Spotted a scam? Whether you lost money or not, let us know at ftc.gov/complaint.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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Ohsotired
October 23, 2018
I have registered both my cell and land line with donotcall.gov. I have an unlisted land line and my number is blocked from caller id. Yet day after I get nuisance calls. It is 9:10pm and a robot phone call. I get calls saying they are microsoft trying to scare me. My cell blocks scam callers. My home phone doesn't have caller id. What can I do. I am disabled and my income fixed.
AECT
February 18, 2020
Just happened to me this afternoon.
not2bscammed
May 11, 2020
just got a call from someone claiming my daughter ordered college testing materials. This is a scam - never give anyone your personal info, credit card or bank info over the phone, unless you can absolutely verify the source
CMK
February 09, 2021
Just received a call today...almost fell for it. 360-356-7669. don't answer if that number calls. A very nice lady called and I didn't question it at first.
Canton MI
February 17, 2021
Just got a call a few minutes ago. Number looked local, but was a dead number when called back. Guy on phone was very polished and convincing. Hung up when my wife questioned the cost and why a card was needed. Trial offer was made with no charge if material was returned within 30 days. Watch out. Total scam.
EMan
April 16, 2021
Its April 2021 and I just got this call from 907-268-4896. I believed it at first and they did know my daughter's name and grade. When I told them I wanted to check with my daughter they hung up on me. It was a woman with an accent. I called my child and she knew nothing about it.
mjf
May 11, 2021
Just got one of these. Telling me SAT materials are free for 30 days but need a credit card to mail out which would be credited. Person said my son requested the materials at his PSAT test (which he didn't take). When we outed him for that false info, he swore at me and hung up.
Scam protector
June 07, 2021
Just got a call today with the exact same scam. I asked if I can go online and pay through the website and the scammer hung up on me.
JHalper
June 30, 2021
Just happened to me moments ago. The caller hung up when I asked him how he got my daughter's information.