What Should I Do If The Internship Or Work Experience Offered By The University Turns Out To Be A Scam?

    Consumer Court Law Guides
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If the internship or work experience offered by your university turns out to be a scam, it can be both frustrating and damaging to your career prospects. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself and seek redress:

  • Terminate Any Involvement and Protect Yourself: If you discover that the internship or work experience is a scam, immediately stop any further involvement. This might include:
    • Cease all communication with the employer or organization involved.
    • Stop providing personal information such as your Social Security number, bank details, or other sensitive data.
    • Withdraw any personal funds if you’ve been asked to make payments for training, materials, or other fraudulent costs.
    • Terminate any work or project if you have already started working, particularly if it involves creating or sharing proprietary work that could be misused.
  • Gather Evidence of the Scam: Collect all relevant documents and communications that show the internship or work experience program was a scam, such as:
    • Emails or messages from the employer.
    • Any advertising or promotional materials from the university or the employer.
    • Screenshots of job postings or application instructions.
    • Contracts, if any, that were signed or proposed, including terms that seem suspicious (e.g., promises of pay without work, upfront fees, or vague descriptions of job duties).
    • Payment receipts, if you were asked for any upfront money.
    The more evidence you can gather, the stronger your case will be if you decide to take legal action or report the scam.
  • Report the Scam to the University: Notify your university or college immediately about the situation. Most institutions have career services or student affairs departments that are responsible for vetting internships and job placements. If the university was involved in promoting the internship, they may have been negligent in ensuring it was legitimate.
    • Reporting the scam allows the university to investigate the situation and prevent future students from being victimized.
    • It may also lead to a resolution, such as a refund for any fees paid or assistance in finding a legitimate opportunity.
    • Universities often have grievance procedures to handle complaints about student experiences, student ombudsman offices to mediate conflicts, and external partnerships with companies to provide job placement or internship opportunities.
  • Contact Consumer Protection Authorities: If the scam involves financial loss or fraudulent practices (e.g., asking for money upfront for fake job placements, or misrepresenting the work experience), report the situation to consumer protection agencies such as:
    • Federal Trade Commission (FTC) (in the U.S.) for deceptive business practices or fraud.
    • Better Business Bureau (BBB) for reporting scam businesses.
    • State Attorney General's Office or a Consumer Protection Agency to investigate fraudulent activities and take action.
    • Department of Labor if the internship was presented as a paid position but the compensation was non-existent or misrepresented.
    These agencies can help you file complaints, investigate fraudulent claims, and possibly take legal action against the perpetrators.
  • Consult Legal Counsel: If you’ve suffered financial loss, reputational damage, or emotional distress due to the scam, you may want to consult with a lawyer. Legal options may include:
    • Fraudulent misrepresentation claims: If the university or the employer misrepresented the internship or work experience, you may have a claim for fraud or misrepresentation.
    • Breach of contract: If you signed a contract with the employer or university and they did not fulfill their obligations or misled you, you could potentially file a breach of contract claim.
    • Consumer protection laws: Depending on the nature of the scam, you might be able to claim damages under consumer protection laws if false advertising or deceptive practices were involved.
    A lawyer can help you understand your rights and the best course of action for recovery or legal action.
  • Seek Compensation or a Refund: If you were asked to pay any fees for the internship (e.g., placement fees, training costs, materials, etc.) and you discover it was a scam, you may be entitled to a refund. You can request this from the university or directly from the company if you have proof of the fraudulent transaction.
    • If the university played a role in promoting or facilitating the internship, they might be responsible for assisting you in recovering any costs, as they have an obligation to provide accurate and reliable services for students seeking work experience.
  • Warn Other Students: Once you have reported the scam to the university and relevant authorities, consider raising awareness about the fraudulent internship. This can help prevent other students from falling victim to the same scam. You can:
    • Share your experience on student forums, social media groups, or university boards.
    • Work with student organizations or the student union to spread the word and ensure other students are informed about potential scams.
    Raising awareness can also pressure the university to take stronger steps in vetting internship providers and ensuring that future opportunities are legitimate.
  • Look for Alternative Legitimate Internships: If the scam has disrupted your academic or career plans, the university’s career services department may be able to assist you in finding a legitimate internship or work experience opportunity. Make sure to:
    • Verify the legitimacy of any new opportunities before committing.
    • Ask for references or reviews from past interns if possible.
    • Confirm that the internship aligns with your educational or career goals.
    Take steps to ensure that any new internship is thoroughly vetted and that the terms of the opportunity are clearly outlined.

Example

A student enrolled in a university program that offers internship placements in marketing, but the university’s career services department partners with a company that claims to offer an internship in a major advertising agency. However, after signing up, the student is asked to pay an upfront training fee and is never given the promised job responsibilities. Upon further investigation, the internship proves to be a scam, and the company does not even exist. The student reports the situation to the university, which initiates an investigation. The student also files a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission for fraudulent practices and seeks legal advice for compensation for the money spent.

Answer By Law4u Team

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