The California Department of Education is warning families about a possible telemarketing scam that uses the Preliminary SAT exam in an attempt to learn credit card numbers and personal information.
The department has received about 14 calls since last week from people asking if education officials have called their home to ask about the PSAT, the practice test offered to high school students before taking the SAT college entrance exam. The callers ask for personal information, including credit card numbers.
Caller ID shows the calls coming from the State of California or from the main telephone line of the Department of Education, officials said in a news release.
“We’re just very concerned that parents are revealing personal information about their families, and we want them to know the calls are not coming from us,” said department spokeswoman Tina Jung. “We never call parents and ask them for their personal information or credit card (numbers). … I don’t know any other state agency that does that either.”
Jung did not have details on what was discussed during the calls or what the callers were purporting to offer, but other telemarketing scams surrounding the PSAT have offered study materials or other information on the test.
Anyone who receives a call about the PSAT should not answer any questions and should hang up immediately, officials said. Anyone who has been contacted can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.
Police have been notified of the potential scam.
Students can only sign up for the PSAT through their high school, according to The College Board, which administers the tests. This year’s test dates are Oct. 15 and Oct. 18. The fee to take the test is $14.
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