ßÙßÇÂþ» Safety Advisory
8/23/2024
Malicious actors utilizing a scam focusing on employment opportunities have been targeting college-aged students across the country, including those attending ßÙßÇÂþ».
In this scam, the suspect initiates contact with potential victims via mass email.
The email, seemingly sent from a university faculty member, serves as an advertisement
for a university employment opportunity. Although the specific job advertised may
vary, it often revolves around an administrative or research assistant position. Upon
the victim's response to the job posting, the suspect proceeds to ask a series of
interview questions, extracting personal information during the process. Subsequently,
the suspect offers employment and sends a fraudulent check to the victim, purportedly
for the purchase of office supplies and gift cards. The suspect then requests that
the remaining funds, along with the security codes from the gift cards, be returned.
In a variation of this scam, the suspect may also request that the unsuspecting victim
print and distribute checks using the purchased office supplies, allowing the suspect
an opportunity to obtain bank routing and account numbers. Unfortunately, the fraudulent
check bounces, leaving the victim responsible for reimbursing their credit agency
for the withdrawn funds.
At 4:55 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, the University Police at ßÙßÇÂþ» received a report
of this scam occurring on ßÙßÇÂþ»â€™s campus. In response to this report and recognizing
the ongoing threat posed by such scams, the ßÙßÇÂþ» Police strongly
advise all members of the campus community to exercise caution when interacting with
unfamiliar individuals on social media or via email.
To minimize the risk of falling victim to this or any scam, please consider implementing the following preventive measures:
- Treat all emails related to employment opportunities with the utmost suspicion and always verify the legitimacy of any university employment by contacting ßÙßÇÂþ» University's Human Resources department (Telephone: 607-777-2187) before responding.
- Never disclose any personal information online, including passwords, cell phone numbers, dates of birth, addresses or common security questions such as your mother's maiden name.
- Always verify the legitimacy of a check before cashing it by speaking with a bank teller. If a fraudulent check bounces, the depositor could be held responsible for reimbursement.
- Never purchase or send gift cards as a form of payment. If you are asked to buy a
gift card on behalf of a colleague who claims to be tied up in a meeting and unable
to talk, contact the university police. This is a variation of the scam.
If you become a victim of any online fraud, report the incident to the university police at (607) 777-2393 immediately. Information can also be reported anonymously through the University Police website at: /police/anonymous-tips.html. Your prompt reporting is crucial for our ability to provide swift assistance and effectively address the situation.