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The University of Houston (UH) has warned the public about a bogus online university that bares a similar-sounding name, according to a report from Houston CBS affiliate KHOU.
KHOU reported that UH asserted it’s not affiliated with “Houston University of Science and Technology.”
One woman who applied with Houston University also warns prospective students about the fake institution, the station reported.
The international applicant – identified only as Dalia – explained to KHOU that a Houston University representative gave her a lengthy spiel about the school and one of its graduate programs.
“You will be provided with, like, a very high scholarship, like 80%,” Dalia recounted of the phone conversation, the station reported. “You just need to pay the admission fee to lock in your application. You know, the scholarship is going to end you have to make a decision.”
According to KHOU, Dalia reluctantly paid the $399 signup fee but realized something was amiss.
“After that call, I was excited but I’m like something is off, something is off … I’m starting to feel icky about this,” she told the station.
KHOU reported that one indication that Houston University is a likely scam is its listed address, 301 San Jacinto St. in Downtown Houston.
No building occupies the address, with the nearest building being the Harris County juvenile courthouse, per the station.
The school’s website allegedly has a faculty list using pictures not of the professors but stock image models, further raising eyebrows among people scrutinizing the institution, KHOU reported.
A UH spokesperson advised those who applied on the Houston University website and feel they may have a problem to submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection, per the station.
“Let me be very clear here that the University of Houston is in no way affiliated with this Houston University of Science and Technology website,” UH Director of Media Relations Chris Stipes said, KHOU reported.