Victim of a scam? Take Action >>
Report Identity Theft or Fraud
Call USCPD at 803-777-4215.
How to Spot a Scam
Scammers get creative when it comes to deceiving innocent victims.
- Is it too good to be true?
- An unsolicited message or offer?
- Requires urgency?
- Asks for an unusual payment method?
- Requests your personal data?
- Uses threatening language or poor grammar?
Shopping and Selling Online
USCPD knows many students use online marketplaces to buy and sell items. Practice safe exchanges and reduce risks by taking these steps:
- Verify sellers using marketplace ratings. Be wary of fake profiles (when was it created?). Don't share personal details like your home address or work location.
- Don't send large sums of money in advance. Be cautious with gift card and crypto requests. Is the price a steal? Could be counterfeit goods.
- Meet in public places (the parking lot of a police station is a great spot!). Bring a friend and use the Rave Guardian Safety app while making an in-person transaction.
Sextortion Scams
Predators seek out unsuspecting victims online in chat rooms, social media platforms, dating sites and gaming applications. After befriending their targets, these predators convince the suspects to send them sexually explicit material. Once they have the images, videos and live-stream recordings they want, the criminals demand money in exchange for not distributing the photos and videos to a victim’s family, friends or colleagues.
Financially motivated schemes like sextortion are on the rise. It’s important that young adults know the dangers of these scams and how to prevent themselves from becoming victims.
Never send compromising images of yourself to anyone—once it’s out there, it’s nearly impossible to get back.
Don’t open attachments or click on links from people you don’t know. Hackers use malware to gain access to your devices and can control your webcam and microphone without you knowing.
Turn off your devices and webcams when you aren’t using them. Camera covers are readily available from retailers.
If you think you’re being exploited, report the predator’s account via the platform’s safety features.
If someone you’re talking to online is acting suspiciously, don’t engage. Block them from contacting you.
If you feel like an online conversation has turned into exploitation, screenshot all the interactions to help law enforcement identify the predator.
Never send money or gift cards to strangers.
Don’t click on unsolicited messages or photos; be wary of unsolicited friend or follow requests.
Be careful what you share online. Scammers use personal details found on social media accounts to gain your trust.
Phishing Scams
This type of cybercrime targets unsuspecting victims by sending emails or text messages that impersonate legitimate businesses such as government agencies, banks, retailers, etc. Scammers seek your personal data like account passwords or social security numbers in order to steal money or attempt identity theft. Be wary of unsolicited messages and requests for your private information. Do not click on random links. When in doubt, reach out directly to official organizations to clarify.
Brushing Scams
Have you ever received an unexpected package? You didn't order it and it has no return address. This kind of unsolicited merchandise is part of a scam called brushing. This fraudulent practice happens when a seller sends unsolicited packages to random people, often using addresses obtained illegally, with the intention of creating fake positive reviews online to artificially boost their product ratings and sales on e-commerce platforms.