Students who decide to answer advertisements for overseas jobs should consider their validity.

The Federal Trade Commission has reported Overseas Unlimited Agency Inc. as running a fraudulent telemarketing and classified advertisement scheme which offered overseas jobs.

OUA Inc. ran a telemarketing scam which charged applicants $325 to $550 for overseas job referrals which did not exist, according to the FTC. OUA Inc. also placed classifieds in college newspapers nation-wide.

The Northern Star carries similar classified advertisement. However, the Star has never carried any from OUA Inc.

There is a serious debate in journalism whether newspapers should check the validity of advertisements and classifieds, said University Legal Cousel George Shur. The debate centers on whether classifieds should have the same, if any, restrictions as display advertisements. There is currently a policy of not printing advertisements for selling term papers, Shur said.

Students can get help in deciding whether a classified or display ad warrants investigation by checking with the Career Planning and Placement Office.

Another way students might verify if classified advertisements are valid is by checking with the Consumer Fraud Division of the Attorney General’s Office, said Shur. There is a branch office in Rockford.

However, persons inquiring about a company will only be able to find out if it is currently under investigation, or has already been found to be fraudulent, said Shur.

The Illinois Attorney General also spends one day each week in DeKalb to answer complaints from area residents, said Shur. Students who answer display ads or classifieds which seem questionable should consider contacting the Attorney General’s Office.