Scam Awareness

A scam is any means someone uses to get you to part with your money. It is not always easy to spot a con or scam artist, but scammers know how to get around your better judgment. They play on your emotions or promise big payoffs to get us to act. Scammers also pose as people, agencies, and companies you know and trust. Scams can occur over the phone, though the mail, over the internet, or in person, and you may not be able to spot the scam artist until it is too late.

General Prevention Tips

- If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your gut.
- Having strong passwords will help stop scammers/hackers from getting into your online accounts.
- Do not pay “fees” or “costs” for something that would otherwise be free, especially not with gift cards.
- Do not give personal information over email/text/phone to someone you don’t know.

Suspicious Emails

- The first clue to an email being a potential scam, is this message at the top of your email: “You don’t often get an email from example@email.com Learn why this important”. However, this does not automatically mean it’s illegitimate.
- Check who the email is from. Even if it’s from a trusted person; if the content of the email seems suspicious, someone else may be impersonating them.
- Analyze the overall grammar and structure of the email. Does it contain silly spelling mistakes, such as misspelling the university’s name or do they reorder key elements of a sentence, such as putting an adjective after a noun instead of before it?
- Is there a “sense of urgency” or threats made in the email? Scammers often use scare tactics to get you to do what they want.
- Are there any links or attachments that may seam suspicious that the scammer wants you to open? “Normal” attachments usually consist of PDF, Doc/Docx (Word Document), XLXS (Excel), PPTX (Power Point) or PNG/JPEG/IMG (Images). Anything else may be a potential virus.
- Does the email request sensitive information, login credentials or payment? Any email asking for such information is typically a scam. Companies will never ask you to provide passwords or data they would otherwise already have on file.
- Even if none of the above applies and the email still feels “off” to you, report it to support@valleyforge.edu or simply delete it if it contains no relevance.

Types of Scams

IRS/Tax/Debt Scams

There are a couple different types of “tax” scams. In one scenario, the victim is contacted, usually through email or over the phone, and told they have unpaid taxes. They’re instructed to wire the “unpaid” taxes to a designated account. There is usually an associated “fee”, often less than a hundred dollars that “needs” to be paid. In another scenario, the fraudster informs the victim they have a legal order pending against them for unpaid taxes. Payment is required or they will be “arrested”. The requested payment method is typically in the form of gift cards; where the victim is told to buy them and give the gift card number over the phone.

Prevention

The IRS will never contact you over the phone, through email or text message. They will almost always contact you with a letter via the post office.
The IRS won’t threaten you with local law enforcement to have you arrested for not paying nor can they revoke your driver’s license, business license or immigration status.
As with all scams, under no circumstance will anyone in any position of government or business ask you to pay in gift cards.

Student Loan Scams

No scholarship is guaranteed and the scammers who attempt to offer this, will typically ask you for an upfront management, processing or enrollment fee. Once the fee is paid, there are sometimes requests for additional fees or simply there is no further contact. Legitimate student loans do not require upfront fees. If there are any fees involved, they are lumped into the loan amount. Any unknown third party who offers any related services is usually a scam. Also, if you ever receive an email or phone call saying that you have been selected for a scholarship (a scholarship you never applied for) that’s a scam. Scammers often use pressure tactics advising the student to act fast or risk losing the scholarship.

Prevention

Ignore offers that demand an immediate answer.
Do not pay a third party to manage or make payments for you.
Never give out your FSA ID, SSN, bank account or debit/credit card numbers to an unknown party.

Tech Support Scams

The fraudster contacts the victim to offer technical support service, claiming to be an official tech support employee. They will attempt to get the victim to allow remote access to their computer. After remote access is gained, the fraudster uses confidence tricks involving programs built into your computer and other software to gain the victims trust and pay for services. In reality, they are mostly likely trying to steal credit card information or persuades the victim to log in to their online bank account, lying that a secure service is connected, and they cannot see the details to receive a refund.

Prevention

When initiating the call or email to a tech support company, always make sure you obtain the correct contact information beforehand.
If you are not completely certain you are speaking with an actual tech support representative, never allow remote access to your computer.
Be cautious when you get fake pop up notifications on your computer claiming that your computer has a virus and to call a phone number to fix it.

Identity Theft

Identity Theft occurs when a fraudster steals key pieces of your personal identifying information (PII) and uses this information to gain access to your financial and personal accounts, opens new credit and/or financial accounts, purchases vehicles, rent apartments, opens utility accounts, phone service, etc.

Prevention

Do not simply throw away documents that contain PII. They need to be shredded.
When entering banking information or credit/debit cards online, look for “https” in the URL. The “s” after “http” ensures that the site is secure.
Memorize your social security number and do not carry it in your wallet or purse. If you need have it on your phone, make sure your phone is protected by a passcode.

Employment Scams

Scammers email their victims promising employment or create a fake job ad on a third-party website. They may even use an email address and a company logo that seems legitimate. They will ask that you complete an application and use your personal information for identity theft. The scammers may even offer to hire you, but overpay you for your services and ask that you reimburse them. Later, their fake check bounces and the victim loses their money.

Prevention

Research the employer before applying and confirm their identity.
Any job postings for UVF will be listed on myValleyForge and will not come from a third party contact.

What to do if you are a Victim of a Scam?

Stop contact with the scammer immediately.
Reset your password to any and all related accounts or websites.
Secure your bank account and debit/credit cards.
Report the scam to your bank and/or the authorities if appropriate.