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BBB: Brightwood College students should be careful of scammers

Posted at 3:57 PM, Dec 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-12 19:28:40-05

 

Former Brightwood College students are still trying to figure out where to earn degrees after their school lost its accreditation last week.

As they look to continue their education, experts said they could be at risk for scams.

Chloe Brooks is just one student we spoke to who said she’s emotionally drained and unsure about her future as a nurse.

“It’s like you’re so close to a dream, so close, that you’ve worked your whole life for, and you’ve sacrificed so much,” Brooks said. “For somebody to just take it away from you without giving you an answer, it’s literally like you’re grieving the loss of someone.”

Kelly Trevino of the Better Business Bureau said these financial hardships are ideal for scammers trying to take advantage. This time, these scammers could be posing as an admissions adviser for another school via text message or email.

“This is a prime time for them to try and reach out to you through different ways,” Trevino said.

Trevino said the likelihood of a credible institution contacting you first is very slim.

“We all know that when you’re searching online for certain schools, you may have some popups from other colleges or schools, but for them to actually send you a specific email, the chances of that don’t seem very likely,” Trevino said.

She urges to never give out your personal information over the phone, and verify the contact information of the school you are researching on that institution’s official website.

“Right now is a very vulnerable time for a lot of people, because they just don’t know what to do,” Trevino said. “But doing your research is going to make sure that you get that certificate or degree in your hand instead of walking away with nothing.”

The Better Business Bureau has information about all accredited schools and any filed complaints on their website http://www.bbb.org. ​