Students Busted In Ebay Tuition Scam

Students Busted In Ebay Tuition Scam

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Story Published: Jul 14, 2004 at 10:26 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:31 AM PDT

By April Zepeda

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY - With a price tag up to $1900 a quarter at Edmonds Community College, students come up with all kinds of creative ways to foot the bill.

Tanya Gutierrez looks to outside sources. "Financial aid and I get veteran benefits, so I use that too," she explained.

But Lynnwood police say five students got more than creative - they broke the law.

Detectives arrested the students from schools in eastern and western Washington for selling stolen goods on eBay to raise thousand of dollars.

"They were paying their college tuition, rent, and just their general living expenses," said Detective Doug Teachworth.

Police say three students from Edmonds Community College and two from WSU were in on the scam.

They are accused of putting high-end electronics up for bid on eBay after the items were bought with stolen credit cards from out of state businesses.

"I started receiving several complaints from businesses outside Washington who said, 'hey we got ripped off by some folks who were using stolen credit cards. We shipped a number of products to some people who live in your city, will you help us out?'" explained Teachworth.

Before police arrested the students, they searched their Lynnwood apartments and confiscated their computers.

Despite the arrests, package notices continue to arrive at their apartments. Fellow college students now wonder what the future holds for the five suspects.

"I think the small peanut scam for your tuition rip off, the pay off in prison will probably be a rough way to go, you know?" said student Jim Roses.

The scam may have paid off in one way. Police tell KOMO 4 News the suspects are no longer in college - they all graduated with degrees.

The suspects could face federal charges because the stolen good were sent through the U.S. Postal Service.

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