Local law enforcement agencies and the Office of the Dean of Students have seen an increase in organized scams that target Purdue students, particularly international students, resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars.
Some of the more common scams include:
- Individuals impersonating U.S. Immigration officials and requesting payment to purportedly enable an international student to maintain their visa status.
- Individuals sending intimate pictures of themselves via social media applications (e.g., Snapchat) and then being blackmailed by the recipient, who demands money in exchange for not sharing or distributing those photos.
- Individuals signing leases for off-campus housing and paying a security deposit, only to learn that the lease is forged or fictitious.
- Individuals being told, falsely, that they have an outstanding criminal or arrest warrant.
The following scenarios and tips can help you recognize scams and avoid becoming a victim:
Common scenarios
- The scammer will pretend to be from an organization that individuals are familiar with, such as a law enforcement or immigration agency, the IRS or other entity that sounds very official or powerful. They often use technology to change the phone number that appears on a caller ID to make it look as if the call is really from the agency they claim to represent.
- The scammer will inform intended victims of a penalty or problem. They might say that the individual is in trouble with…
