Students warned of aid scam

Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004 | 8:23 a.m.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas officials warned students on Monday to beware of scam artists representing themselves as a scholarship company in order to steal student bank account numbers.

The university's financial aid office received three complaints Friday and Monday from students who had encountered the illegitimate solicitors, said Peter Hurley, interim director of student enrollment and student financial services.

The scammers tell students they have scholarship money available to them, but the students must give the scammers their check routing number or bank account information to receive the money. They also tell students there is an administrative handling charge to receive the money.

UNLV does not charge students any processing fee for scholarships and would never ask for bank information over the phone, Hurley said.

"This is the type of thing where if the student is, I don't know, wise to the world, they are suspicious about it, but others who don't know or who are entirely new to the financial aid office may fall victim to it," Hurley said.

Complaints can be filed with the Federal Trade Commission, (202) 326-2222, or online at ftc.gov. UNLV students may review their financial aid records by visiting the "My Aid" portion of unlv.edu, or by calling at 895-3424.