How does Citi get around Syracuse University's ban against turning college kids into debt sharecroppers? Simple. Pass out flyers saying, "free pitas," given away at a location just outside the campus boundaries...

Then when the kids go off-campus to redeem their pita, they're told they have to fill out a form allowing a credit card application to be mailed to them, which also got around the school's prohibition against gift-giving in exchange for apps.

You might chalk this up to "rogue marketers," except that Ohio just sued Citi marketers for their "free burrito" event. A tasty pattern begins to emerge.

Free pitas come with a catch [Daily Orange] (Thanks to Jodi!)
RELATED: Ohio Attorney General Sues Credit Card Marketers Over Ohio State "Free Burrito" Event
(Photo: Morton Fox)