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Saint Michael's College Department Of Public Safety Office Of Crime Prevention
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Tips & Scams
This page is devoted to keeping readers informed of scams on campus and in the area. As well as giving out tips on safety and security issues.
SCAMS IN THE AREA
Business Card Hoax
A written request has been mailed in Vermont and the region asking that a business card be sent to a terminally ill 7 year-old child in Atlanta, GA. The address given is Craig Shepard, C/O Make-A-Wish Foundation, 90 Perimeter Center East, Atlanta, GA 30346.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation in Burlington, VT, has declared that this is a hoax and not connected to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Visa & MasterCard Credit Card Phone Scam
A subject calls you and tells you that he or she is from a major credit card company and is following up on a purchase on your account. They tell you the item and price to which you deny the purchase. They state they will start a fraud investigation on it right away. They never ask for your card number, which makes this seem real. That is because they have it already. Next they ask to verify that you still have your card by reading off the numbers listed on the back of the card including the 3 digit security code (which is what they really want in the first place). That is since they have your card number already. It is important to remember that the credit card company would not ask for those numbers as they have them already. The best thing to do is hang up and call the 1-800 number on the back of the card or the one for service by the agency who issued you the card, and verify they have called you first.
Airline Ticket Scams
Please be aware that there are web sites in the net that promise cheaper air fares with the sole purpose of obtaining your credit card information. DO NOT USE THESE SIGHTS: They have been proven to be scams.
BusySky.net CheapClouds.com CrazyTickets.net SubmitPrice.net
American Red Cross Scam
The American Red Cross (ARC) is warning Internet users to beware of a credit card stealing Trojan horse program that is made to look as though it comes from the disaster relief organization.
According to the ARC, the fraudulent program arrives as a large executable file in an e-mail attachment that presents a form bearing the Red Cross logo requesting the user's address and credit card information when activated. After a victim completes the form and clicks its "Donate Now" button, the data will be uploaded to a third-party site not affiliated with the ARC.
Symantec Corp. alerted the ARC to the e-mail on October 17th and issued a bulletin about the malicious program, which is named the "Septer Trojan." The Trojan program will not allow users to close the displayed form by clicking on the "close window" icon in the program's upper right corner. The company advises users instead to use the Windows "end task" function.
The American Red Cross said it is not currently soliciting donations by e-mail.
Phone Scam
An individual calls stating he or she is a AT&T service technician and is conducting tests on phone lines. The person requests you to push nine (9), then zero (0), and last the pound sign (#). It has been found by doing so you give the scammer full access to your phone line. Most of the major phone companies agree with these findings. NEVER PUSH 90# for anybody.
Gas Card Scam
There is a current scam out there were a alleged telemarketer calls about wireless service. He asks about getting personal information after he tells of the deal. The last time this scam went out was in 11/2002. A Vermont man gave out his debit card number, Social Security Number, And Drivers License for the contract. Fortunately he called the Police.
NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR SSN, CREDIT/DEBIT CARD NUMBERS, OR DRIVERS LICENSE OVER THE PHONE. Unless you have verified the business first.
Red Cross Scam
The (ARC) American Red Cross, is warning internet users about a scam which is made up to look like it comes from the Disaster Relief Organization. According to the ARC the program arrives like an email attachment and presents a form bearing the Red Cross Logo. The form asks for credit card numbers and in the end asks you to hit the "Donate Now" button. The data is then sent to a third party. You have to use end task to close out the form.
SCAMS ON CAMPUS
Solicitors
There have been several solicitors on campus selling things. Some of them only have pictures and ask for information like credit/debit card numbers and promise delivery at a later time. In some cases cash has also been given.
NEVER GIVE OUT CASH, DEBIT, OR CREDIT CARD NUMBERS WITHOUT GETTING THE PRODUCT THEN, OR VERIFYING THEM RIGHT THEN. If you feel you were a scam victim or believe there is one in your area, call the tip line 250-LEAD, 2374, 2000, 1192, or use the Silent Witness form on main page.
TIPS FOR YOUR SAFETY & SECURITY
Identity Theft
Each year may persons fall victim to identity theft. Most of the information comes through the telephone, but some through email and regular mail. What is the information being stolen from you? Everything.
NEVER GIVE OUT THE FOLLOWING WITHOUT VERIFYING TO WHOM YOU ARE GIVING IT TO:
Name, Date of Birth, Credit card info, debit card info, Social Security Number. If you suspect a scam report it.
You can check the Business through the Better Business Beware. BBB.
CAMPUS TIPS
Knock Knock
There are subjects that go though the dorms on most campuses knocking on doors and asking for people that do not live there. They do this usually down an entire hall. They are looking for what you have in your room, and also if it is locked or attended.
ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOORS, GET TO KNOW YOUR SURROUNDINGS AND NEIGHBORS, REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO x2000 IMMEDIATELY, PARTICIPATE IN "CAMPUS WATCH", "OPERATION ID", AND OTHER RELATED PROGRAMS.
