To the Binghamton University community,
On Monday, Oct. 19, the University Police were notified that a student received harassing
phone calls from someone falsely claiming to be a government employee. During the
calls, the suspect claimed that forged personal documents were found and demanded
a substantial payment to resolve a pending legal case against the victim.
University Police understand that receiving such calls can be alarming, and want to
reassure the campus community that these calls are fraudulent. The intent behind such
a call is typically to intimidate individuals and steal money or personal information.
Additionally, no law enforcement agency will ever ask for financial information (such
as bank account or credit card details) or demand money to dismiss an investigation
or cancel an arrest warrant.
How to Protect Yourself
In response to this incident, the University Police, in cooperation with the Office
of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), offers the following guidance:
- Never purchase or send gift cards as a form of payment to an unknown individual,
regardless of who they claim to be. Legitimate government agencies will never request
payment in this manner.
- Do not share personal or sensitive information (such as Social Security numbers,
passport details, addresses, or financial information) over the phone.
- If you receive a call like this, remain calm, do not engage with the caller, and
immediately hang up.
- Be aware that the caller may continue contacting you from different numbers. These
numbers may appear to be government agencies or may direct you to an official-looking
website (such as the ICE website). These are common tactics used to convince a victim
of the call’s legitimacy. As mentioned above, do not engage with the caller, no matter
how persistent they are.
In the unfortunate event that you are facing extortion or have fallen victim to an
online scam, report the incident to the University Police at (607) 777-2393. Information
can also be reported anonymously through the University Police website: https://www.binghamton.edu/police/anonymous-tips.html.