Scams

UT Police routinely receive reports about potential fraud as scammers try to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. Reports to UT Police of suspected – and verified – phishing scams have increased, especially those attempting to entice victims with check-cashing and work-at-home scams.

Check-cashing Scams

One prevalent check-cashing scam involves contacting victims using a “spoofed” phone number or email address. In some cases, the callers claim to be employed by an agency, bank, or another entity. They inform the victim that they owe some type of fine or tax and will be arrested if the matter is not resolved immediately.

Be reminded that government agencies do not use telephone collection agencies to collect on debt or charges due. The phone numbers of government agencies can be verified on their .gov websites.

There is heightened vulnerability for individuals who have experienced job loss and who are often under stressful financial pressures. This is a prime opportunity for scammers to successfully lure a victim who is searching for another source of income.

Holiday Shopping Scams

When you’re shopping online, the best way to avoid scams is to be aware of the sites you’re browsing on. Try to buy directly from the merchant or verified sellers and make sure the website has SSL encryption. You can check this by looking at the address bar for a padlock icon or a website address starting with “https.” Always use secure Wi-Fi networks and avoid using public Wi-Fi as hackers can access information you might send out, like your credit card number or banking info.

Imposter Scams

UT Police have received reports of imposter scams, which target foreign students at university campuses in Southwest Texas. Reports state that foreign students are contacted using a “spoofed” phone number. In these cases, the callers identify themselves as the FBI. They inform the victim that they owe some type of fine or tax and will be arrested if the matter is not resolved immediately. The victim is instructed to buy gift cards and relay the information on the gift card to the caller. Within hours, and typically before authorities have been contacted, the gift cards have been zeroed out. In some cases, the victim is instructed to respond to a nonexistent meeting location. Please be aware that no legitimate government entity uses telephone collectors.

Your boss isn’t emailing or texting you about a gift card.

Did you get an email or text from your boss asking you for a favor? Does your boss need you to send gift cards to pay for an upcoming office holiday party? Before you go out and pay up, ask yourself: is that really your boss? It could be a scammer trying to get your money.  

Here’s how it can play out. The scammer sends you an email or text impersonating your boss, either using a spoofed email address or by hacking into their account. They then make up a story about needing your help with something — an office surprise party, a company event, even a simple errand. Whatever the reason, they’ll ask you to help by paying them with gift cards, promising to pay you back later. But once you hand over the gift card number and PIN, the money is gone.

If you get an unexpected email from your boss asking for this kind of help:

  • Don’t pay for anything with a gift card. Gift cards are for gifts, not for payments. If anyone asks you to pay with a gift card, it’s a scam.
  • Double-check with your supervisor. Call your boss using a known number — not something that was written in the email.
  • Take a pause. Can’t reach your manager? Talk to a trusted coworker or friend. Tell them the situation and see what they would do.

You can report scammers to your local law police agency or to UT Police at (713) 792-2890.

Work-at-home Scams

UT Police has also received reports of work-at-home scams which promise the ability to be your own boss and earn thousands of dollars a month. Some scams require the individual to pay for a starter kit or certification, while others may even promise a refund if you don’t succeed.

While there are many jobs that allow individuals the ability to work from home, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides many resources on their website to those who want to know more about the types of work-at-home scams and what to do if you fall victim.

Tax Identity Theft Scams

Tax identity theft happens when someone files a fake tax return using your personal information — like your Social Security number — to get a tax refund from the IRS. It also can happen when someone uses your Social Security number to get a job or claims your child as a dependent on a tax return. Tax identity theft is the most common form of identity theft reported to the FTC.
 
Tax identity theft victims typically find out about the crime when they receive a letter from the IRS indicating that more than one tax return was filed in their name, or IRS records show they received wages from an employer they don’t know. If you receive a letter like this, don’t panic. Contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. If you’re a victim of tax identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov to help you recover from identity theft.

The FTC has received thousands of complaints about one kind of scammer in particular — IRS imposters. Here’s how they work: scammers posing as IRS officials call and say you owe taxes. They threaten to arrest or deport you, revoke your license, or even shut down your business if you don’t pay right away. They may know your Social Security number making you think it really is the IRS calling. Before you can check out the callers, you’re told to put the money on a prepaid debit card and tell them the number — something no government agency would ask you to do. Once you do it, you find out it was a scam, and the money is gone.

If you owe — or think you owe — federal taxes, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 or go to irs.gov. IRS workers can help you with your payment questions. The IRS doesn’t ask people to pay with prepaid debit cards or wire transfers and doesn’t ask for credit card numbers over the phone. When the IRS contacts people about unpaid taxes, they usually do it by mail, not by phone. Report IRS imposter scams to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) online or at 1-800-366-4484, and to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

What To Do If You Are a Victim

If you believe you may have been targeted by a scam, contact the UT Police non-emergency phone number at 713-792-2890 to report the incident. You are also encouraged to contact the FTC Call Center at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or go online: reportfraud.ftc.gov, if you have questions or believe you have been a victim of fraud or a scam.