91°µÍø

Please be careful to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, extortion scam, or other fraudulent activity that may target international students.

If you ever receive a phone call, email, message, or other request that makes you feel uneasy, collect as much information as possible (e.g. the number that the call is coming from, the person’s name who is making the request, etc.), and report the call, message or request to ISSS or the 91°µÍø Police Department.

ISSS and MUPD have heard reports of the following types of scams, so be aware of these types of scams and on guard against other scams that may target international students.

Identity Theft

Identity theft means that someone has taken some of your personal information (such as your name, address, Social Security number, etc.) and used it to illegally purchase items or apply for credit-based activities under your name. The perpetrator can also use your information to try to gain access to your financial accounts.

Government Impersonator Scam

Another type of scam involves receiving phone calls or messages from someone pretending to be employed by a government agency such as USCIS, IRS, Customs and Border, or something else. They might have specific information about you such as your date of birth, I-94 number, etc. They will likely indicate that you need to give them additional information or even send them money in order to maintain your legal status in the United States.

• If you receive a message like this, please disregard it. Government agencies will never call or text you about your visa status nor request that you give money or information over the phone or text. Read more about .

Employment Scam

Also, be aware of scams that offer unsolicited employment to students. Emails can be faked, so even if someone has a 91°µÍøOH.edu email you should verify their identity. Please note that all 91°µÍø on-campus jobs will be posted on the 91°µÍø Jobs Website and international students should always connect with ISSS for questions about work authorization.

• If you receive a message that you suspect to be a scam, please forward the message to InfoSec@91°µÍøOH.edu. If you ever feel you may have responded to a fraudulent message or clicked a link in one, please contact IT Help immediately at 513-529-7900.

Transfer Money and Giftcard Scam

Regarding the transfer of money, you should be very careful with any intermediary or third party person who offers to help send money to someone, whether it is within the United States or an international transfer. Transferring funds to another person should never require you to pay a large sum of money before the actual transfer, short of any fees the financial institution (e.g. Western Union) may charge for the service. Be suspicious of anyone who says they need to validate or test your bank account by sending you a check to deposit into your account and then asking you to send the money back to them. They may write fake checks and you could be responsible for the negative sum in your bank account.

• If you are asked to purchase gift cards, cash checks or input login credentials for certain services, the safest response is to simply disregard the message. You should never transfer money or purchase a gift card for someone you don't personally know.

Phishing Scam

Some scams are emails that appear to be from a person or organization that you know and trust, asking you to click on a link and give information such as account numbers, passwords, etc. Do not click on these links. Take a close look at the email address from which the message has been sent. There is a good chance that it is not an authentic email from the organization it claims to be from.

• If you receive a message that you suspect to be a scam, please forward the message to InfoSec@91°µÍøOH.edu. If you ever feel you may have responded to a fraudulent message or clicked a link in one, please contact IT Help immediately at 513-529-7900.

Extortion from Home Country or in Native Language

Some scammers may call from numbers outside the U.S. and speak a student's native language in attempts to threaten students into sending money. In some instances, scammers may even contact international students' family members in their home country.

• If you receive a message like this, please disregard it and forward the message to InfoSec@91°µÍøOH.edu or report the call to MUPD and/or ISSS . You should never receive a call or text threatening cancellation of visa status or a message that requests/demands you give money or information.
• You should never transfer money or purchase a gift card for someone you don't personally know.

What to do if you suspect you're a victim of a crime

If you suspect you are the victim of a crime, please contact 91°µÍø Police, 513-529-2222, or Oxford Police, 513-524-5240. As always, connect with ISSS if you need additional support.