Here's how the scam works: A Michigan school might get a fake bill for new “Common Core standards aligned” language arts materials. The bill isn't huge; it’s always been reported as $647.50, so it might slip under a school’s radar.
Lisa Dilg works at the Eastern Michigan Better Business Bureau. She says the other reason the scam might work is because the fake invoices closely resemble invoices from a known education materials supplier.
“They are receiving invoices from a company called Scholastic School Supply that look very similar to Scholastic Inc.,” she says. “That's a name that is well-recognized in the schools.”
Dilg says her organization is investigating the scam since it was reported by schools in Adrian. It has already been seen in 21 other states.
Schools that see these invoices are asked to contact the Better Business Bureau. Dilg says schools can also contact the U.S. Postal Service, because they are investigating this scam as mail fraud. If you want to see the warning in its entirety, check it out here.
