West Virginia University students are being targeted in a telephone scam that uses a legitimate phone number that has been inappropriately commandeered by someone seeking access to personal information.
The number displays as Charleston Police Department on caller IDs, but it is NOT police who are calling. If you receive such a call DO NOT provide Social Security Numbers, birthdates or any other personal information.
Students who have been contacted have falsely been told that warrants have been issued for their arrests and that scholarship funds are in jeopardy if personal information is not immediately provided, and/or that their information has been compromised. However, WVU has not asked Charleston police to contact any students about matters involving academics, financial aid or disclosure of personal information.
Students who receive such a call or see a missed call from Charleston Police Department on their phones are urged to file a report with University Police by telephone only, calling 304-293-COPS (304.293.2267). Please do not email.
Charleston police ask that students NOT call the number displayed, as the department is also a victim in this scam. The number is the main line to a records department, and police have received a number of calls from concerned students since December, including about 15 on Thursday morning (Feb. 26).
Information Technology Services urges students to be suspicious about all unsolicited electronic communications seeking personal information, including such things as birthdates, SSNs, and usernames and passwords. Personally identifiable information can be used to steal your identity and commit fraud. For tips on protecting yourself, spotting scams and setting up fraud alerts, please visit DefendYourData.wvu.edu.
Additional tips from University Police:
If you are contacted by someone who claims there is a warrant for your arrest or is claiming to collect a debt that you do not owe, you should:
• Ask the caller for name, company, street address and telephone number.
• Tell the caller that you refuse to discuss any debt until you get a written “validation notice.” The notice must include the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor you owe and your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
• Contact local law enforcement agencies if you feel you are in immediate danger.
• If you have already given out information about your bank accounts or credit cards, contact your bank(s) and credit companies.
• Contact the three major credit bureaus and request an alert be put on your file.
• If you have received a legitimate loan and want to verify that you do not have any outstanding obligation, contact the loan company directly.
• File a complaint at http://www.IC3.gov.
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-WVU-
vs/02/26/15
CONTACT: Vicki Smith; WVU Information Technology Services
304.293.2286; Vicki.Smith@mail.wvu.edu
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.