USC warns of fundraising scams

By: Joseph Kasko | SCNow
Published: November 11, 2009

COLUMBIA – Officials at the University of South Carolina are warning residents near the Columbia campus of a possible fundraising scam.

The university has gotten several calls from the public, reporting that college-aged people claiming to be students are going door-to-door to raise money.

“They represent themselves as USC students who are selling magazines to raise funds for class projects,” said university spokeswoman Margaret Lamb.

However, she says that’s not the case.

“The university has a solicitation policy that governs on campus solicitation, but we don’t have one (for) off-campus. And we know of no instance, in which a faculty member has sanctioned the selling of magazines subscriptions to raise money for a class project.”

Lamb says the reports are a concern for school officials.

“We certainly don’t want people out there, you know, misrepresenting the university and saying that they’re students.”

If anyone is approached by such a person, Lamb says “we encourage them to report it to the local authorities immediately.”