CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities at Clayton State University issued a campus-wide alert Friday morning after getting a tip from Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland.
The email warning blast went out after Strickland told a university official a student had fallen for a bogus solicitation found on campus promising a big free tax refund. The IRS tipped off Strickland.
"It was an absolute travesty," said student Eric Russell, who confirmed receiving the email.
"I believe (the scammers) understand that Clayton State students or any college student are under a lot of financial burden and may easily hop onto this opportunity."
"Don’t fall for it. That is a scam," said IRS spokesman Mark Green in a direct message to students across Georgia.
Green told Strickland one Clayton State student, whom he would not identify, had given his Social Security number to a tax preparer who promised a $1,000 refund. The scammer instead prepared a fraud return seeking an education tax credit.
"They in turn file a bogus tax return, they get a large refund in the college student's name, unfortunately the college student is left holding the bag so to speak," Green said. He would not give particulars of the case at Clayton State.
"I think it's upsetting but it's even more sickening that people fall for it," said student Monique Camp.
"Are you offended by something like this, that brand of solicitation aimed at your kids?" Strickland asked Professor Judith Ogden.
"Absolutely, absolutely," replied Ogden, who heads the school’s long-running program to provide free tax help using business student volunteers.
"It's obviously just a rip off," she said of the posting.
WSBTV
