Learning For Success

Protecting Yourself Against Distance Learning Scams (Part I)

April 20th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Distance learning, or online education, has been the answer to many people’s prayers when it comes to furthering one’s education. The convenience of taking classes in the comforts of your home, at your own pace, provides many individuals with the opportunity to earn a college degree despite their busy schedules.

However, like most industries, there are a few disreputable operators whose primary goal is to make a quick “buck” at your expense. These distance learning entrepreneurs may appear to be offering a legitimate online education program, but any certification or degree received may be worthless.

So, how do you protect yourself against an online education scam? Here are some helpful tips that will help you avoid these fraudulent schemes:

If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is!

If you have been doing any research for online classes, you are probably aware of all the sales hype. Just remember - they are trying to sell you on their particular program, so consider that their claims may be embellished or even fabricated. In other words, regard their advertising as nothing more than a sales letter and don’t immediately believe everything you read. Be skeptical until convinced otherwise!

If you think that these fraudulent online education program operators are working on a shoestring budget, think again. Many of these fraudulent companies have large advertising budgets, so don’t be overly impressed with lavish web sites or colorful brochures. The key point to remember here is that you must verify all of the pertinent information that you receive from any distance learning company or institution.

Confirm the Business’ Physical Address and Phone Number

Even though distance learning programs are generally conducted through the Internet, the companies providing these programs should have a physical address. You can use many online resources, like Yahoo Yellow Pages, to verify the address and location of the distance learning company. If all they provide is a PO Box, be skeptical.

Also, any reputable online education provider will have a phone number where you can contact a school representative to have your questions answered. Don’t be satisfied with an answering machine or voice mail - make a number of calls until you actually contact a live person. Once you do make contact, ensure that the number is actually for the desired learning company. If you cannot make contact or your calls are not returned, this should raise a warning flag and further investigation is in order.

Note: This post will be continued in Part II

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Welcome to Our ‘Learning For Success’ Blog!

April 19th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

We believe that the distance learning educational process provides almost anybody with a desire for learning a golden opportunity to advance their education, whether the goal is to earn a degree or just to learn a new hobby or skill. The selection of distance learning programs is very impressive and can allow a person to advance at their own pace while learning in the comfort of their own home.

If your goal is to earn a college degree, online college classes are offered by many of the leading colleges and universities. If you desire to enter the medical profession, online nursing courses are available from the Associates Degree level all the way to a Masters of Nursing degree. If your present profession requires continuing education classes, many institutions offer qualifying classes online. The distance learning possibilities are almost endless!

In our blog, we plan to provide useful information for those interested in following the online education path. We will be covering a number of related distance learning topics and will also pass on interesting tips on how to receive the best education for your distance learning “dollar”. We will also discuss ways to protect yourself from becoming the victim of any distance learning scams.

So, why not bookmark our blog and come back often to learn the latest in distance learning opportunities. And don’t feel shy about adding your comments to any of our posts. We welcome all suggestions for new topics that would be of interest to other readers. The more participation we have, the more useful you will find the blog.

Remember - distance learning can provide you a better Life, Career, and Future! Isn’t it about time that you did something nice for yourself?