Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020

Dear students,

Scams are a common threat targeting individuals of all ages. This month, the UNT Police Department teamed up with the TWU Police Department and Denton Police Department to educate the community on popular scams and ways to protect yourself.

Scams take many forms, and scammers are constantly finding fresh ways to prey on victims. Here are some potential red flags:

  • Pushy callers
  • "Too good to be true" offers
  • Manipulative people
  • Excessive grammar and spelling errors in written communication
  • Indications of non-native English speaker
  • Financial transactions via phone or non-traditional methods like Bitcoin or gift cards
  • Request for personal information before verifying authenticity

Some popular scam examples:

  • Government agencies threatening jail time for non-payment of some kind especially if they ask you to pay that fee with Bitcoin or gift cards
  • Dating app false profiles that are scammers seeking to use your personal information or explicit photos for blackmail
  • Fake job offers that often send you a check unexpectedly but the check is fake and will bounce, leaving you to pay the full amount
  • Spoofed caller ID scammers can make their number look like any number they want (including the police department)

Don't answer calls from unknown persons and always take the time to verify the correct number and call it back if you're in doubt. Trust your instincts! You can learn more about avoiding and reporting scams at consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts.

If you're concerned or in doubt about a call, email or text, call the UNT Police Department at 940-565-3000.

Follow us at @UNTPolice on Twitter and Facebook for more tips.