Scams involving ''Merit Academies''

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by E93, Jan 17, 2009.

  1. E93

    E93 Guest

    Alright, I'm getting sick of this, and I need to rant about it for a while.

    Most of you who live in the United States (I don't know if this happens outside of the US as much), have heard, or received letters about these Merit Academies.

    Every time it's a different one.
    Last time, they wanted me to pay ~ $1000 to go to DC and meet Congressmen! Gee Wiz, that sounds fun! (not)

    This time, I received a letter from the United States Achievement Academy.
    In the letter, they say they want to congratulate me for being such a great student, and that the opportunity of a lifetime has come.
    I can finally give them money so they can scam me with some fake book, and so I can get free, FREE junk mail, and credit cards and all that fun stuff! THANK YOU USAA, THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A FRIGGEN LIFETIME.

    My Inbox is spammed daily already by Universities such as the University of Miami, and others that I haven't even heard of. Ever.
    No, I did not reply to any of these scams.
    I actually gave my email after this seminar at school, when I was a Freshman, and didn't know any better.

    So, please, freshmen and future freshmen of ForgeHub, DO NOT respond to any of these scams. Even if it sounds legit, has personal information, etc. They have means of obtaining this and this does not make them Legit.

    Here are some extra links if you guys want to read some extra stuff about it, if you still don't believe me.


    The Blog that Ate Manhattan: The National Honor Roll Scam
    Yahoo! Answers - United States Achievement Academy?
    EDUCATION; A Warning on Student Directories - New York Times
    The United States Achievement Academy what is this? - Yahoo! Answers

    Also, just read this last thing if you want to.
    It's a comment posted on the blog (first link).

    Well it seems as though there's a new scam (alright not new just by another name) called United States Achievement Academy, All-American Scholar Program. A student's name is submitted from a teacher or guidance couselor and in the mail you get the congratulatory letter telling them to fill out the bio info and then if you want-you get to pay $52.90 + $7.00 for processing/shipping, to have your kid's name published in a yearbook. They will then send you an application to apply for scholarships. Sound familiar??? Anyway, I googled their Lex., KY address and found them on BBB On-line with the following info. Look below and note "Vanity Publishers" and more importantly the other names this organization does business as...National Honor Roll!!
    This Business Operates under the Names All American Scholar
    International Foreign Language Awards
    National English Merit Awards
    National Honor Roll Award
    National Leadership & Service Award
    National Minority Leadership Award
    National Science Merit Awards
    United States Achievement Academy
    US Achievement Academy
    USAA (United States Achievement Academy)


     
  2. Nightfire

    Nightfire Ancient
    Senior Member

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    Yeah, there's been a lot of scamming and spamming and stuff like that going on lately. Just delete anything that asks for more then your name.
     
  3. xxAl Capwnagexx

    xxAl Capwnagexx Ancient
    Senior Member

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    LOL, my sister, brother, and dad all went/go there, assuming you mean the one in Oxford, Ohio and not Florida. Miami (OH) is actually a really good school

    But how have you not heard of either Miami school?
     
  4. E93

    E93 Guest

    I'm not sure, I've never even tried clicking the link in their email, so I wouldn't know which one it is.

    I have heard of both, actually.
    I meant that U of Miami was one of the only ones I had actually heard of.
     
  5. Whisper

    Whisper Ancient
    Senior Member

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    I went on a real one of these and got a 30k dollar scholarship + I met like 12 senators in person.
     
  6. Nemihara

    Nemihara Ancient
    Senior Member

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    If your school makes you sign up for Fastweb, don't. It's supposed to give you all these 'sponsorships' for college. I used my old email account, and it is now completely inundated. Gee, thanks a lot Mid Pac.
     
  7. E93

    E93 Guest

    Keywords: ''Real One''.
     

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