Imagine this: One day a friend tells you about a great new job he has just started and would love for you to join, too. It’s part-time, you can set your own hours and in just a few short weeks you can be making big money. Sign me up, right? Here’s the catch: You won’t make the profits you were promised, and without doing any research, you could have absolutely no idea what you signed up for.

Scams are popping up all over campus lately, specifically designed to fool the average college student into investing money in a company that will fail to deliver its big promises. Some disguise themselves as cool new jobs, while others trick you into thinking you are getting a lot more bang for your buck than you actually will. Nobody wants to be that person who fell for a dumb scam while the guys on the other side are laughing. Lucky for you, we have compiled a list of a few of the biggest scams and rip-offs we’ve seen on campus recently, so you won’t be that person. You’re too smart for that.

Pyramid Schemes:

One of the biggest and most disconcerting scams on campus as of late is the “get rich quick” scheme or the pyramid scheme. You may have already heard of pyramid schemes before; think Bernie Madoff, the guy who was sentenced to some serious jail time for creating a company based on an illegal Ponzi scheme. These schemes generally hide behind names like multi-level marketing, referral marketing or network marketing.

Pyramid schemes operate by creating a network or “pyramid” of investors. Each person who invests in the company makes a set amount of money for each person they recruit, each person that person recruits, and so on. This marketing scheme is extremely lucrative for those located at the top of the pyramid, but causes a loss of investment to those at the bottom, despite the fact that those at the bottom will ultimately be doing all of the work. These schemes are illegal and inevitably collapse.

Spotting a pyramid scheme is actually pretty easy once you know what to look for. Companies that use pyramid schemes will promise big money in a short amount of time, and you might sense that they try a little too hard to get you to join in on this “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” As a general rule of thumb, just remember: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Travel Schemes:

It’s also important to use caution when booking a vacation. Whether you’re organizing a summer getaway with your friends or already planning spring break 2014, according to the National Association of Attorneys General, travel scams cost consumers $12 billion annually, and many of those victims are college students. To ensure that your vacation isn’t a scam, make sure you research the booking agency, be wary of heavily discounted trips, and run if an agency requires payment in only cash, check or money order.

Exercise caution when booking an all-inclusive vacation package, which in reality, might not feature all the great perks advertised. For example, those exclusive concert tickets might only be for the first hundred people who show up, and the free meals might be more along the lines of vouchers to Wendy’s rather than gourmet dinners.

 

Identity and Credit Theft:

Even though you may think you, as a broke college student, are immune to identity theft or credit card fraud — you’re just getting by on dollar beers after all — you are still very susceptible to fraud and theft.

Theft commonly occurs at bars where people keep open credit card tabs. All it takes is someone overhearing your name and they can claim drinks courtesy of you until you close your tab later that night. Carrying a limited amount of cash when you go downtown will completely prevent this problem, while also avoiding the inevitable “I spent THAT much money downtown?!”panic.

Avoiding scams and rip-offs isn’t always unavoidable, especially when you’re a busy college student on a budget; however, not getting conned boils down to common sense. Use your best judgment, and if it sounds too good to be true, then seriously, it probably is.

 

Remember:

1. Always shred credit card offers before you discard them and be conscious of where you put sensitive personal documents and numbers.

2. Be mindful when ordering anything over the Internet.

3. Never share your important passwords with friends or roommates. And always make sure your passwords are complex with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.

4. Remember to regularly check your credit or debit card statements. Careful monitoring can help detect identity theft before it gets out of hand.

By: Alyson Russo

Bedding – Mattress Toppers

Sleep is just about the most important thing to college students. More than a sheet and pillow, adding bedding accessories can make the difference between a normal secondhand mattress and ultimate sleeping pleasure. Memory foam mattress toppers can get pricey, but they are well worth the price for the experience of a restful nights sleep.

Condoms

While at college, whether minutes or hours from home, you are fully independent and responsible for yourself. Parents aren’t there to force you to eat healthy, nurse you back to health when you catch a cold, or worse, care for an accidental baby due to your poor decisions. Condoms are definitely not something to skimp on nor are they something to put back at CVS when the total is a little more than expected. Buying generic condoms may leave you with a much more expensive bill nine months later. Spend the extra few bucks; it’s worth the expense.

Toilet paper

Everyone uses toilet paper. Some like it soft, some like it strong, some like it fluffy and others like it durable. There are options to fit everyone’s wants. However, the cheap option is not one many people prefer. First, it usually runs out quickly because it takes more paper to get the job done. Then, you end up spending more money because you have to buy new rolls every other day. Going all out on the top-notch toilet paper makes you feel good and saves you a trip to the store.

Taxi Rides

Whether going out to dinner with friends, walking to the store to pick up a few groceries or bar hopping up and down Five Points, getting a safe ride home after dark is a necessity. Living on a campus surrounded by a capital city presents certain dangers. Being in college means leading a low budget lifestyle and while no one wants to spend their spare singles on a cab, it’s for the best.

Laundry Detergent

Most people grew up with parents who did the family’s laundry. In college however, we learn to do it ourselves. Laundry detergent may seem like a great product to try and save on because it all looks the same, but in reality, a good quality detergent will help your wardrobe look, and smell its best. Top dollar detergents keep clothing in their best condition, prolonging its durability.

Trash Bags

Whether living in a dorm, apartment, or house, garbage piles up, making it one of the most dreaded chores. Cheap garbage bags are definitely something to stay away from for many reasons. To start, the smell will escape from the top of the bag that cannot close because of ties that were broken while trying to seal it. This disgusting aroma may also sneak out of potential holes that are likely to form due to the cheap quality. If garbage begins sneaking out through these holes, a mess will result, requiring more cleaning to be done. Because of holes, a mess and a stench that causes you to cringe, it’s in your best interest to spend the money on trash bags that are guaranteed to work.

 

Unlike most places in the world, Halloween isn’t just a one-day event at USC. In Columbia, Halloween means an extravagant, four-day costume-fest. Unfortunately, though, we can’t all afford to wear a new, glitzy costume each night. We all want jaws to drop when strutting our costumes into parties, but don’t want to do the same when checking our bank accounts. Here are a couple of inexpensive costume ideas for guys and girls living on a college budget.