Fake embassy fine
A U. of I. student received a series of calls from people claiming to represent the Chinese Embassy in Chicago who said the student would be arrested if she did not pay a fine. The student provided her passport information and wired $23,000 to the scammer.
Payment app fraud
A U. of I. student listed a set of vehicle rims for sale on an online marketplace and received a message from a person who claimed to be interested in purchasing them. The student then received a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the online payment application who said that the student had to pay $500 to release the payment from the prospective buyer. The student did so, but did not receive any return payment.
Fake police
A U. of I. student received a call from a person purporting to be a local police officer who said the student was implicated in illegal activity and needed to pay $950 to avoid being arrested. The student purchased gift cards and transferred the card information to the caller as payment.
Five ways UIPD is maintaining Halloween weekend safety
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Illinois – The University of Illinois Police Department is making preparations to keep students and community members safe so they can enjoy the Halloween weekend without any unwanted scares. Halloween and the weekend preceding it tends to bring an increase in activity at Campustown bars and off-campus house parties. That in itself is not a problem – but some of the alcohol-fueled activity puts people in danger when they become too intoxicated to care for themselves or when the alcohol contributes to unsafe decisions. “We want our students to be able to socialize and enjoy their free time, but [...]
Sexual extortion
A U. of I. student engaged in a video call with a person he believed to be an intimate partner, but later learned that person had lied about their identity. During the video call, the offender had recorded an intimate video of the student without consent and sent it to several of the student’s social media contacts. The offender then demanded $400. The student refused payment and blocked the offender on social media.