A common telephone scam involving callers posing as police officers has reached Case Western Reserve in recent days. Members of the campus community report that they have been told by callers that warrants have been issued for their arrest, according to university police and information security staff. The only way to avoid charges, the con artist caller continues, is to pay off the “fines.”
Anyone receiving such a telephone call or voicemail message should refrain from providing any personal or financial information. Instead, they should contact Case Western Reserve police immediately at 216.368.3333.
Similar versions of this scam have been reported in locations around the country. Some victims have answered the “officer’s” request for a personal credit card number or numbers from a Green Dot prepaid credit card. Sometimes the caller uses technology tricks to make it appear that the call is coming from an actual police or sheriff’s department number. In some instances, the caller has posed as an officer of the Internal Revenue Service.
Other universities have reported that international students have been targeted in this scam. These scams also may occur via email.
Law enforcement authorities do not ever collect fines in this manner.
To prevent online or telephone scams, keep the following tips in mind:
- Do not share credit card or bank account information over the phone unless you know the other party.
- Do not succumb to the pressure or panic the scammer is trying to evoke by conveying a false sense of urgency regarding your “imminent arrest.”
- Do not provide any personal information to strangers.
- Do report suspicious calls, persons or circumstances to the Case Western Reserve Police Department at 216.368.3333.