Dear Ithaca College Community,
We want to bring your attention to a concerning issue affecting our community. Recently, there have been reports of scam phone calls targeting parents, family members, and supporters of our students. These fraudulent callers claim that an Ithaca College student has been arrested and urgently needs bail money. They often impersonate attorneys or law enforcement officials.
How the Scam Works:
- Caller Impersonation: The scammer poses as an attorney or a law enforcement officer representing a student who is supposedly in jail.
- Urgent Bail Request: They inform the victim that their student needs bail money immediately.
- Payment Methods: The scammer typically requests payment via wire transfer, CashApp, Venmo, or reloadable debit cards.
What You Should Do:
- Verify the Emergency: Anyone who receives such a call about an Ithaca College student should resist the urge to react to the request immediately, and instead contact Public Safety at 607-274-3333.
- Check with the Student: The person receiving the call should reach out to their student to confirm the situation.
- Do Not Wire or Send Money: Do not provide payment via any means to the caller.
- Report Fraud: If you suspect a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ftc.gov/complaint or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.
Please know that a representative of Ithaca College would never contact anyone requesting bail money. If you or anyone you know receives any suspicious calls requesting bail money for an Ithaca College student, contact Public Safety immediately at 607-274-3333.
We encourage you to share this information with your family, friends, and peers to raise awareness and reduce the likelihood of being victimized by similar incidents occurring.
Sincerely,
Elyse A. Nepa
Assistant Director
Clery Act and Prevention Education
Public Safety and Emergency Management