Binghamton University campus community,
Malicious actors utilizing a new scam focusing on concert tickets have been targeting college-aged students across the country, including those attending Binghamton University
.In this latest scam, the suspect typically initiates contact through group message boards such as GroupMe or Discord. They present unsuspecting victims with the opportunity to purchase concert tickets, often accompanied by an illegally obtained digital copy of a student ID to falsely claim an affiliation with the university. Once a price is agreed upon, the victim is asked to Venmo the funds to an account and provide a copy of their own student ID. Unfortunately, the scammer then keeps the money, and may send fake tickets or provide no tickets at all. The illegally obtained copy of the victim's ID is then used to perpetuate the scam.
At 4:21 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, the University Police at Binghamton received a report of this scam occurring on 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.
To minimize the risk of falling victim to this or any scam, consider implementing the following preventive measures:
- Refrain from accepting friend requests or following individuals whom you have not personally met or established a genuine connection with.
- Never disclose any personal information online, including passwords, cell phone numbers, dates of birth or common security questions such as your mother's maiden name.
- Never send a copy of any personal documents such as driver’s licenses, student IDs and/or passports.
- Never purchase concert tickets via Venmo, as Venmo has a policy stating that all transactions involving concert tickets are final and non-refundable.
If you are a victim of this scam or become a victim of any online fraud, report the incident to the University Police at
(607)777-2393 immediately. Information can also be reported anonymously through the University Police website. 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 Warning" 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.
