It seems like scammers have found a new avenue how to fleece students and parents of their hard-earned cash. This time, they are using SAT exams and the good intentions of parents.
In a report on King5, a new scam is trying to dupe good-intentioned parents by telling them that their kids have been picked to participate in a special SAT program. With this kind of offer, no parent would be able to say no since it will greatly benefit their kids.
One of the victims, Elaine Mintz, said that a woman called her saying she is part of an organization that created SAT study tapes for kids who are doing the exam. The woman told her that her son could borrow two study DVDs for free for 30 days. All she had to do, the woman said, was provide her credit card and they will be sending the discs in case her son wants to keep the discs.
Mintz said the woman was so nice she didn't think it was a scam. Only later when she returned the DVDs as instructed did she realize that she was scammed because the "company" deducted $200 from her card and more after a week later.
It was discovered that the scammers operate under the business name SAT/ACT Scholastic Achievement which is based and has been "operating" for quite some time in Alta Loma, California where it gained notoriety for such activities.
Some of the complaints posted online confirm that the company is a scam. One woman wrote that they kept her credit card number and deducted from it again.
The Better Business Bureau has given it an F rating as it received numerous complaints from customers. What more, it is not even affiliated in any way to the Educational Testing Service, which owns the SAT.
David Quinlan, vice president of marketing for BBB Northwest, said that the reason why many parents have been scammed because of the hope they offer which any person who needs it can easily fall for it.
