In a recent communication from the Campus Safety and International Advising Office, a worrying trend has emerged, targeting international students with sophisticated cyber kidnapping and fraud schemes. The advisory is aimed at bolstering awareness and preventative measures, highlighting the critical need for vigilance among the student body.

The Campus Safety team has identified a pattern in such fraudulent activities. Common scam themes include:

– Requests for payments via untraceable methods like gift cards or Venmo.

– Emails impersonating Union faculty or staff.

– Callers masquerading as government agencies using spoofed caller IDs.

– Tactics involving fear, threats, and intimidation.

– Demands for immediate action, often under threat of deportation or arrest.

– Persistent and long-duration phone calls, discouraging students from disconnecting to seek advice.

In addition to these, be aware of phishing emails and fake websites designed to look like legitimate sources.

The advisory imparts crucial advice to help students steer clear of these traps:

1. Be Skeptical: If a caller seems suspicious, trust your instincts and hang up.
2. Never Wire Money: Legitimate government agencies will never solicit payments over the phone.
3. Guard Your Personal Information: Do not share sensitive details like banking or social security numbers with unknown entities.
4. Verification is Key: Always verify the identity of callers asking for personal information. Don’t hesitate to ask for their details and cross-check with official channels.
5. Beware of Unexpected Checks: Avoid cashing unsolicited checks received via mail.
6. Read Before Signing: Thoroughly understand any contracts before agreeing.
7. Update Your Information: Regularly change and monitor your online account details and passwords.

The International Advising Office asks students who suspect they have encountered a scam to immediately contact International Advising and Campus Safety at +1-518-388-6911. Staying informed and cautious is the best defense against these increasingly sophisticated fraud attempts.It’s also vital for students to openly discuss and share their experiences with potential scals, creating community-wide alertness. 

This article was compiled using information provided by the International Advising Office, which issued a detailed warning to students about the rise in cyber kidnapping and fraud cases.