On Friday, April 7, a University of Delaware student received a scam phone call from an individual falsely claiming to be from a federal law enforcement agency and asserting that the victim had broken the law. A similar call was received by another student earlier this month.

Members of the University community should know that no law enforcement agency will ever call and demand money over the telephone. Fines are collected by the courts, not by the police. If you receive such a call, please contact the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-323-8603 to file a complaint. Students may also contact the University of Delaware Police Department at 302-831-2222 for guidance and support.

International students are often targets of these scams. UD’s Center for Global Programs and Services maintains a resource webpage that includes recent updates and guidance on scams targeting this community and has developed a scam tip sheet.

Resources

Members of the University community are reminded to be vigilant: If you see something, say something. Be aware of your surroundings, and call 911 to report suspicious activity.

For additional information on safety and wellness topics at UD, visit www.udel.edu/students/safety/.

Members of the UD community may download a free smartphone app, LiveSafe, that lets users submit tips to police, receive important broadcast notifications and contact the University of Delaware Police Department directly. To learn more, visit this LiveSafe website.

Subscribe to receive a UD Crime Update email whenever an article about a police investigation is posted on UDaily.