As a student, the standardized test may have been one of the first times I was asked to provide personal information like my address and birthday and optional Social Security number on a form. As one of the first times my SSN was queried, I remember my heart racing a bit. I found this sudden transition into adulthood somewhat troubling. Wasn’t I supposed to keep that number a secret? Why did they ask me instead of my parents? Finally, I asked the test coordinators if I had to provide it and they said, “no.” Crisis averted.

I imagine our adolescent Vermonters having the same experience, albeit perhaps more knowledgeable than I was. Even still, standardized tests are unchartered territory. So, when employees supposedly affiliated with the PSAT, SAT or ACT call your home following signup, it may seem possible that it is them. Rest assured, it is not them. It is a scam. They don’t solicit. They won’t call you—unless of course you ask them to call you. But you probably didn’t, because there is a test coordinator at school who helps you with most of the questions you have.

Share the details of this scam with your household and school.

•  Scammers claim to be affiliated with the PSAT, SAT, and ACT standardized tests, or the administrator, College Board.
  • The caller ID may be spoofed to appear as the College Board even though it is not.
• Caller says a household student requested test and college prep materials at their school, which will be mailed out after obtaining payment information as collateral. 
• The caller may state the student’s name, address, along with a date and exam location.

Know that the College Board will “only make calls to students and their families in response to student-generated inquiries and/or to provide students and families with information about a test or program for which the student registered” (collegeboard.org). The College Board does not make unsolicited calls requesting payment or personal information, such as credit card number and Social Security number. Hang up on these calls.

Always take steps to verify unknown contacts by using publicly available contact information, not information provided by the scammer. For upcoming standardized tests occurring at your school, you may also reach out to your school’s test coordinator about procedural questions and planning logistics.

Report scams to the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program at ago.vermont.gov/cap or by phone at 1-800-649-2424. For more information about this scam and scam prevention resources go to the CAP Connection blog: https://blog.uvm.edu/cap

Learn more about this scam: https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/23883-bbb-scam-alert-watch-out-for-sat-prep-scams