Safety and security are of utmost importance during your college experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Whether safeguarding your belongings on campus or shielding yourself from scams, making your safety a top priority is essential. Follow the guidance provided by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to better understand and steer clear of deceptive activities.
Scammers are skilled at impersonating well-known organizations or government agencies. Alternatively, they create official-sounding names to appear credible and legitimate. To enhance their deception, scammers frequently manipulate technology to modify caller ID, making it challenging to distinguish genuine calls from fraudulent ones.
These deceptive individuals employ two primary tactics to capture your attention: urgency and enticing promises.
A hallmark of a scam is the pressure these fraudsters exert to compel swift decisions. Their aim is to prompt impulsive actions, leaving little room for critical thinking. During phone conversations, they often discourage you from hanging up to fact-check their claims. Common scare tactics include threats of arrest, lawsuits, license revocation, deportation or warnings about your computer’s impending corruption.
Furthermore, scammers dictate unconventional and challenging-to-trace payment methods. They may insist on payments via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps or even purchase of gift cards.
To protect yourself against scams, it is crucial to adopt several precautionary measures. Firstly, take proactive steps to block unwanted calls and filter text messages from unknown sources, significantly reducing exposure to potential scams. Exercise caution when asked to provide personal or financial information in response to unexpected solicitations. Genuine organizations will not request sensitive information via phone, email or text. When in doubt, contact the organization directly using trusted contact details, avoiding those provided in suspicious scams.
Moreover, resist the urge to make impulsive decisions under pressure. Reputable businesses provide you with the time needed to make informed decisions. Anyone pushing for urgent payment or personal information is likely a scammer.
If you believe you have been a victim of a scam, contact UNC Police on the non-emergency line 919-962-8100. Those needing to use TTY/TDD feature can dial 911 also.
Your awareness plays a pivotal role in decreasing incidents of fraud. By adopting the FTC’s strategies, you can reduce instances of fraud on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus. Vigilance and knowledge serve as your most dependable allies in establishing a secure environment for yourself and those around you.