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SCAMS
At any particular time, there are many different scams being perpetrated face-to-face, by email, text, US Postal Service delivery, or phone. The best advice is to analyze what you are being told and if it sounds suspicious or unbelievable disregard it and report it if you feel that it is a danger to yourself or others. If the message is a text or email, do not click on any of the links: permanently delete it. Below are a few of the most reported recent scams circulating. A good source of media press releases advising of scams is http://www.ic3.gov/media.
Scam Using FBI Phone Number to Target College Students
The FBI Milwaukee Division is warning consumers to be on alert for a phone scam that primarily targets college students using the FBI’s phone number on caller ID.
The FBI has received multiple calls from college students at various universities in Wisconsin and their parents complaining of a phone scam from someone who claims to be representing the U.S. government and threatens to arrest them if they fail to pay thousands of dollars. In each case, the threats are associated with false claims ranging from money owed for student loans to delinquent taxes and overdue parking tickets.
During each attempt to gain personally identifiable information from the students, the caller claims to have specific student information. The originating number used by the fraudsters, which appears on students’ caller ID, is masked as the number for the FBI’s local office in Wisconsin. In some cases, the fraudsters will direct potential victims to the FBI Milwaukee homepage on the Internet, claiming they can “verify” the caller ID phone number in an attempt to keep victims on the phone and legitimize the scam.
The public is reminded that the FBI does not call private citizens requesting money. If citizens receive a call that seems suspicious, they should disconnect immediately and notify law enforcement.
If you receive these calls, do not follow the caller’s instructions. Rather, you should:
- Notify your banking institutions.
- Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file.
- Contact your local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger.
- File a complaint through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
Scam targeting taxpayers
OSUIT is warning the campus of an apparent phone scam targeting taxpayers. The suspect or caller impersonates an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employee and asks the victim for money or personal information. According to reports, the victims are either told they owe the IRS money or are receiving a tax refund in order to obtain private information. Some victims have even received “urgent” messages asking they call the suspects back.
OSUIT reminds everyone to never give financial or personal information to anyone over the phone.
OSUIT has been notified by the FBI of two scams targeting university students and employees. Both warnings originate from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center or iC3.
Scam Targeting University Students
College students across the United States have been targeted to participate in work-from-home scams. Students have been receiving e-mails to their school accounts recruiting them for payroll and/or human resource positions with fictitious companies. The “position” simply requires the student to provide his/her bank account number to receive a deposit and then transfer a portion of the funds to another bank account. Unbeknownst to the student, the other account is involved in the scam that the student has now helped perpetrate. The funds the student receives and is directed elsewhere have been stolen by cyber criminals. Participating in the scam is a crime and could lead to the student’s bank account being closed due to fraudulent activity or federal charges. For more information visit http://www.ic3.gov/media/2015/150113-1.aspx
UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEE PAYROLL SCAM
University employees are receiving fraudulent e-mails indicating a change in their human resource status. The e-mail contains a link directing the employee to login to their human resources website to identify this change. The website provided appears very similar to the legitimate site in an effort to steal the employee’s credentials. Once the employee enters his/her login information, the scammer takes that information and signs into the employee’s official human resources account to change the employee’s direct deposit information. This redirects the employee’s paycheck to the bank account of another individual involved in the scam. For more information visit http://www.ic3.gov/media/2015/150113-2.aspx.
According to the FBI, internet crime schemes steal millions of dollars each year. If you feel you have been a victim of this crime or have information please go to www.ic3.gov to file a complaint or for additional information.
Internet Crime Prevention Tips
Scam Targeting Off-campus Students
OSUIT has learned of an off-campus scam targeting students. Reportedly individuals are posing as students and going door-to-door or approaching people at area shopping centers saying they are collecting money for a class project to send care packages to military personnel overseas. In exchange for a donation the suspects are giving contributors a pink “voucher” they say can be reimbursed by the university.
This is not a legitimate fundraising effort by any current student or university organization. If you have already been a victim of the scam or are approached by individuals who claim to be collecting money for any organized class project or student organization, you shouldn’t give them money or personal information and report it to police.