Time to Hang Up!
It is always in season unfortunately for scammers to coax their victims to do their bidding. The Office of International Services wants to remind everyone to stay vigilant. We all receive unsolicited calls, emails, and post mail (also referred to as “mailers”). Not everything is a scam but that is where we need to use our best judgement and continue to keep our guard up when the situation arises. Our office has a dedicated page that highlights the numerous scam types. Please take a moment to review that information as we also include great resources.
Remember, that the IRS, Social Security Administration, ICE Agents, and Department of Homeland Security (to name a few), are never going to call you. You may receive mail from one of those agencies/offices but they won’t call. You should continue to scrutinize your mail, including email, in the event that you should receive something suspicious and never hesitate to contact our office.
We understand that the message from the scammer may sound scary and that is exact reaction that they want from you. They want you to give in. Don’t do it. Never relinquish your personal and/or bank account information. Never meet up as well if that is part of the demand. Reach out to our office and/or UTPD to alert us of the incident. There are ways for you to report those incidents to the appropriate agencies/offices.
When in doubt, reach out to our office. We want you to be safe and we are here to assist you.
Additional Resources:
- Federal Trade Commission – Pass It On: Common Types of Scams
- Student in the States: Tips to Avoid Scams Blog Post
- U.S. Social Security Administration: 3 Ways to Know it’s a Scam Call