When you ask for help, you typically don't want to end up the victim of a con.

Yet that's what has happened in an unsettling new trend of scams targeting college and high school students. These students seek to hire tutors to help them with their overwhelming course loads or tricky class projects. When they turn to the Internet and find companies offering to take the load completely off their shoulders for an assignment or two, they take the bait.

Unfortunately, that's when the experience starts to turn sour. Instead of relief and assistance, these overloaded students find themselves paying out more and more for online help. If they refuse to pay, these so-called tutoring companies threaten blackmail.

BBB Scam Tracker, a Better Business Bureau service, has received a flood of recent reports detailing the actions of devious so-called tutors. These scam artists prey on worried students, promise them help, and then threaten to report them for cheating—before demanding cash to buy their silence.

Inside a Tutoring Scam: What to Look for if an Online Student Help Company Targets You

When these scam artists set up their company, they know that appearance matters—and that stressed high school and college students are in need of quick, easy support.

They start by setting up attractive, easy-to-find, easy-to-understand websites in the guise of a tutoring company. When these students land on these web pages, they're quickly sold on assistance packages. Victims who have gone through this process report paying a couple of hundred dollars for this alleged ‘support'.

Once the victim pays, things start to go awry. The purported tutor will demand more and more money. If the student asks why, they'll make up an excuse or claim that it's for research purposes.

If the student refuses to pay, the company turns on them. They'll send threatening texts and emails, stating that they'll contact the student's school with allegations of academic misconduct. Instead of helping overwhelmed students with their homework, the company takes their money and plans to expose them as cheaters.

Work with a Smart Student Defense Lawyer Today to Avoid or Deal With Manipulative Scams

Needing help with your homework shouldn't lead to complicated, confusing allegations of misconduct. If you're thinking about hiring a tutor, keep these tips in mind:

• Ask for referrals.
• Check references.
• Get rates in writing up front.

If you're worried that you've already gotten involved with a unsavory situation that could result in misconduct allegations, it's better to realize that now than later. Reach out to a student defense attorney today to discuss your options, and to make a plan that protects your reputation and your future.

Joseph D. Lento has unparalleled experience in defending students accused of academic misconduct. He can help you manage the aftermath of a scam, work with your school, deal with the repercussions of extortion, and more. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 today for more information.