In an effort to protect our community from potential scams, we are sharing some common scams and what you can do to avoid them.

Scammers can target anyone and use a variety of tactics to steal money and obtain personal information. They may contact you through email, phone calls, text messages, social media, or in person, pretending to be school officials, employers, charity organization, or government agencies.

Common Scams to Watch Out For

Fake Job Offers
Scammers pose as employers offering remote jobs, often appearing too good to be true, then request personal or banking information.

Tuition or Financial Aid Scams
Fraudsters claim you owe money to the school and require your immediate action or offer fake scholarships in exchange for fees.

Tech Support Scams
Unsolicited calls or emails pretending to be IT support claiming a problem with your device or asking for login credentials or remote access to your device.

Phishing Emails
Emails that appear to be from school officials or professors asking for sensitive information or containing suspicious links.

Phone Scams
Callers claim that you won a prize or were selected for a special offer. They may also impersonate government agencies and demand immediate payment or personal data.

In-Person Scams
If a person approaches you on campus and asks for money for any reason: charity, church, sports team, etc., do not give them anything and call Public Safety at 718.982.2111.

Text Scams
Texts from an unknown sender claiming that you owe on a bill such as EZ Pass, Con Edison, etc. The text directs you to open a link to make payment. 

How to Stay Safe

–          Verify the source before sharing any personal or financial information.

–          Do not click on any suspicious links or open unexpected attachments.

–          NEVER GIVE ANYONE ACCESS TO YOUR PHONE. Our phones contain too much personal and, in many cases, financial information.

–          Never send money via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to unknown individuals.

–          Use official college contacts, if in doubt, contact the department directly.

–          Report suspicious activity to the Office of Public Safety at 718.982.2111.

–          Stay alert and protect yourself from scams. If you receive a suspicious message, don’t engage, report it immediately.

By Michael Lederhandler