UCLA officials warn students of fraudulent offers to pay tuition
By Ryan Leou
Aug. 6, 2016 12:45 p.m.
UCLA officials warned students in an email about a fraud ring targeting international students, offering to help pay their tuition with the fraud ring’s credit cards.
Allison Baird-James, associate vice chancellor and controller of UCLA Corporate Financial Services, wrote Thursday that individuals in the ring approach foreign students in person or on social media and offer to pay students’ tuition with their credit card.
In turn, students gives them access to their student system account, and the individuals pay using their personal credit card. For the deal, students pay 95 percent of their bill to the person with a check or wire transfer. However, the credit card is fraudulent, and the charges are placed back on the student account.
Baird-James said it is not advisable to provide strangers with one’s money or access to one’s banking information. She added UCLA offers multiple payment options, including cash, check, online via BruinBill, using an international credit card and wire transfer.
Students can contact the Payment Solutions and Compliance Office with any questions or concerns at 310-794-5333.
