Hi all,
Please read this message from HUPD below. Several people in our community have received
these scam emails.
Best,
Clare
--
Clare Ploucha
Director of Programs
Harvard Quantum Initiative
33 Oxford Street, Maxwell Dworkin 347
Cambridge, MA 02138
From: "Catalano, Steven G." <steven_catalano(a)hupd.harvard.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 10:43 PM
To: "@Campus Notify (campus-notify-all(a)harvard.edu)"
<campus-notify-all(a)harvard.edu>
Subject: Harvard University Police Department Campus Advisory
Email Scam
The Harvard University Police Department wishes to inform our community of an ongoing scam
targeting Harvard University affiliates. The scam appears to originate from a Harvard
email address and offers recipients free musical instruments, in exchange for paying the
delivery costs. The scammer requests interested parties contact them via text and submit
payment via an online money transfer service (Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, etc.).
The HUPD is actively investigating these incidents and is informing members of our
community about these scams in an attempt to prevent future loss of finances or personal
information.
If you receive this scam email, or a message similar to it, please do not respond.
Below please find additional information regarding common scams and possible actions
affiliates can take in the event they are contacted by scammers.
Important Knowledge Regarding Scams
• U.S. Government (IRS, Immigration/Citizenship Services, and
Department of State) officials will never ask for prepaid gift cards or debit/credit card
information over the telephone.
• Law enforcement officials will never request payment in order to
resolve a warrant or criminal issue.
• Affiliates are cautioned when using informal means to locate housing
(Craigslist, Facebook, or Reddit). Affiliates are strongly encouraged to utilize the
Off-Campus Housing website in order to locate rental properties.
Commons Characteristics of Scams
• Caller/sender does not identify themselves or claims association with
a government organization/department (IRS, law enforcement, Department of State).
• Caller/sender demands affiliate to act quickly.
• Caller/sender notifies affiliate of concerning information of which
the affiliate was not previously aware (problem with taxes, immigration status, active
warrant).
• Caller/sender requests payment in cash or by gift card.
• Caller/sender prohibits affiliate from notifying other individuals of
the situation.
Steps to Take If You Receive a Scam Telephone Call/Email
• Do not share any personal identifiable or financial information.
• Monitor calls/email for potential scams from unknown
callers/sender.
• If you suspect the caller/sender is attempting to commit a scam, hang
up or do not respond.
• Do not agree to meet with an unknown caller/sender. If the
caller/sender claims to be a government official, you should contact Harvard International
Office (HIO), which can work with HUPD as needed to verify the caller/sender’s
credentials.
• If you feel unsafe or threatened, call the HUPD at 617-495-1212.
External Resources for More Information
• Federal Trade Commission for Rental Scams -
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0079-rental-listing-scams<https://…
• Federal Trade Commission Information for Avoiding Scams -
https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/avoiding-scams-information-recent-refugee…
• U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services website on Common Scams -
https://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams/common-scams<https://urldefense.proofp…
• Federal Trade Commission to Report Identity Theft -
https://www.identitytheft.gov/?utm_source=takeaction<https://urldefense.…
• Harvard International Office (HIO) regarding housing -
http://hio.harvard.edu/housing
For more detailed information on safety and security, please read the Harvard University
Police Department's Annual Security Report, which can be found at
www.hupd.harvard.edu/annual-security-report<http://www.hupd.harvard.edu/…rt>.
Additionally, please review “Scams and Identity Theft Attempts Targeting International
Affiliates”, which can be found at
https://www.hupd.harvard.edu/scams-targeting-international-affiliates.
For questions about this message, please contact the Harvard University Police
Department's Public Information Officer, Steven G. Catalano, at 617-495-9225 or by
email at
steven_catalano@hupd.harvard.edu<mailto:steven_catalano@hupd.harvard.edu>.
Under the Clery Act, institutions are required to maintain two types of alert systems for
separate and distinct purposes, Emergency Notifications and Timely Warnings. Emergency
Notifications are sent via the MessageMe system upon the confirmation of a significant
emergency or dangerous situation involving an immediate threat to the health or safety of
students, employees, or visitors occurring on the campus.
Timely Warnings are sent via email to the University community when a situation occurs
within Harvard’s Clery Geography and represents a serious or continuing threat.
Beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year, the HUPD will also disseminate Campus
Advisories, which cover non-emergency incidents that do not rise to the requirements of
Emergency Notifications or Timely Warnings.
Disseminated at 4:45 PM on September 5, 2023.
Steven G. Catalano
Special Advisor to Chief of Police/Public Information Officer
Harvard University Police Department
1033 Massachusetts Avenue, 6th floor
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
617-495-9225
steven_catalano@hupd.harvard.edu<mailto:steven_catalano@hupd.harvard.edu>