Binghamton University Safety Advisory
1/22/2024
Malicious actors utilizing a scam focusing on employment opportunities have been
targeting college-aged students across the country, including those attending
Binghamton University.
In this scam, the suspect initiates contact with potential victims via mass email.
The email, seemingly sent from a university faculty member, serves as an
advertisement for a university employment opportunity. Although the specific job
advertised may vary, it often revolves around an administrative or research
assistant position. Upon the victim's response to the job posting, the suspect
proceeds to ask a series of interview questions, extracting personal information
during the process. Subsequently, the suspect offers employment and sends a
fraudulent check to the victim, purportedly for the purchase of office supplies and
gift cards. The suspect then requests that the remaining funds, along with the
security codes from the gift cards, be returned. Unfortunately, the fraudulent check
bounces, leaving the victim responsible for reimbursing their credit agency for the
withdrawn funds.
On 1/19/24 at 5:19pm, the University Police at Binghamton received a report of
this scam occurring on Binghamton’s campus. In response to this report and
recognizing the ongoing threat posed by such scams, the Binghamton University
Police strongly advise all members of the campus community to exercise caution
when interacting with unfamiliar individuals on social media or via email.
To minimize the risk of falling victim to this or any scam, please consider implementing the following preventive measures:
- Treat all emails related to employment opportunities with the utmost
suspicion and always verify the legitimacy of any university employment by
contacting Binghamton University's Human Resources department
(Telephone: 607-777-2187) before responding. - Never disclose any personal information online, including passwords, cell phone numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or common security questions such as your mother's maiden name.
- Always verify the legitimacy of a check before cashing it by speaking with a bank teller. If a fraudulent check bounces, the depositor could be held responsible for reimbursement.
- Never purchase or send gift cards as a form of payment. If you are asked to buy a gift card on behalf of a colleague who claims to be tied up in a meeting and unable to talk, contact the university police. This is a variation of the scam.
If you encounter this scam or become a victim of any online fraud, please report
the incident to the university police at (607)777-2393 immediately. Information
can also be reported anonymously through the University Police website:
https://www.binghamton.edu/police/anonymous-tips.html.
Your prompt reporting is crucial for our ability to provide swift assistance and
effectively address the situation.
This message has been delivered to all active users of the Binghamton University electronic mail system. This message is posted for the Binghamton community in compliance with the "Timely Notice" provisions of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998 You cannot be removed from these distributions. There is no reason to forward this message to individuals or mailing lists within the Binghamton mail system as it is already distributed to everyone.
