Homework Helper / Test Prep Extortion Scam

Overview

Students who pay online "tutoring" or test-prep companies to do their homework or exams for them find the company later demands more money and threatens to expose them to their school for cheating if they don't pay up.

How It Works

A student struggling in a class searches online for a tutoring company that offers to actually complete assignments or exams rather than teach the material, and pays upfront, often a couple hundred dollars, for help with coursework such as math or technology classes. After payment, instead of delivering the promised help, the company demands additional money, inventing excuses like extra "research" fees. If the student refuses to keep paying, the scammers turn to extortion, sending threatening emails or texts claiming they will report the student to their college or university as a cheater using the assignments and message history as "evidence," pushing frightened students to pay thousands of dollars to protect their academic standing.

Red Flags

• A company offers to complete your homework or exams for you rather than help you learn the material
• You're asked to sign a disclaimer or waiver before work begins, which is later used against you
• Requests for extra, unexplained fees after the initial payment (e.g., for "additional research")
• Threats to report you to your school or have you expelled if you stop paying or ask for a refund

Real Examples

• BBB Scam Tracker received a report describing a company that had students sign a disclaimer, then used that document and chat messages to threaten to tell their college to get them expelled
• Another victim reported that when they asked for a refund, the company threatened to email their school or teacher claiming the student had cheated

Where It Spreads

How to Protect Yourself

• Never pay someone to complete your own assignments or take exams for you; this is cheating and creates blackmail leverage
• Get tutoring referrals from friends, family, teachers, or honor society tutoring programs instead of unknown online companies
• Check references for any tutoring service and speak with at least three past clients before paying
• Agree on availability, rates, and scope of services in writing up front to avoid surprise fees
• Report extortion attempts to BBB Scam Tracker rather than paying the demanded money

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