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