University Police wants the campus to be aware of weekly reports of email, social media and text scams or frauds. 

Scammers employ many tactics to exploit individuals. Some of these fraudulent activities include:

• False job offers: Scammers may offer job opportunities promising high salaries with minimal work requirements.
• Coercion and threats: Scammers may resort to threats of legal consequences, school expulsion or embarrassment to convince individuals to pay fictional fees.
• Impersonation and blackmail: Scammers often impersonate others, luring victims into sending sensitive information or provocative images which are later used for extortion.
• Spoofing and deception: Scammers use spoofed phone numbers and mimic legitimate email addresses to deceive victims, sometimes even posing as government agencies or well-known individuals.

To prevent falling victim to these scams, follow these precautions:

• Do not respond to unsolicited requests: Refrain from engaging with unsolicited emails or messages, regardless of the claimed sender.
• Verify: Always verify the authenticity of requests or offers. If in doubt, verify the communication through trusted sources.
• Use verified contact information: Contact the company or institution directly using verified contact information instead of responding to numbers or emails provided by potential fraudsters.
• Exercise caution with financial transactions: Exercise extreme caution when asked to transfer funds through unconventional methods, such as gift cards.
• Be wary of unverifiable email addresses: Exercise caution when dealing with emails from unverifiable sources, including domains such as Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail and others.

If you have questions regarding a suspicious message, contact the University Police at 573-341-4300.