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Loudoun Co. officials: Be alert for new tactics on old scams

By Kathy Stewart

WASHINGTON — Con artists simply don’t give up. They keep coming up with new ways to separate you from your money. And a local sheriff’s office is warning of a freshened-up version of an old scam.

In Loudoun County, Virginia, the sheriff’s office says residents recently received alerts on their cellphones. The urgent text message is claiming to be from the “Loudoun Credit Union.” It goes on to say that, “your visa been temporarily DEACTIVATED”.

Here are where the red flags should be going up: the message wants you to call the “Loudoun Card Services 24hr line” and gives a phone number with a 703 area code.

Once you call, it wants your 16-digit credit card number, expiration date and PIN number. The sheriff’s office warns if you give out that information, you are basically handing it over to scam artists, allowing outside access to your account.

The urgent text message scam isn’t the only one seen in Loudoun County recently.

Also, the sheriff’s office says in recent weeks, residents have reported a scam that’s happened in the past in Loudoun County where someone calls and says they’re from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and tells you that there’s a warrant out for your arrest.

But here’s the catch: the sheriff’s office says police or government agencies will never ask you to pay money to deal with an arrest warrant.

In the scam, the victims’ caller ID shows the call is coming from the sheriff’s office. But police warn that caller ID is susceptible to fraud. So the caller ID only looks like the call is coming from the county sheriff’s office when it really isn’t.

The sheriff’s office warns if you suspect you’ve gotten a call from a scammer posing as law enforcement or posing as someone from a government agency, you should hang up and immediately call the sheriff’s office at 703 777-1021.

Police also warn you to be very skeptical if you are being asked to provide money — either through a money transfer or via a pre-paid money card. The sheriff’s office says all types of scams are taking place constantly.

Also, scam artists don’t just hit one area — they usually spread the wealth. So don’t be surprised if you see this scam being played out across our region, police say.

Read more about scammers on the website, Looks Too Good To Be True.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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