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Please be aware that only approved student or University affiliated vendors are permitted to sell items in open areas or reserved areas of our campuses. Many times you may see individuals try to sell candy or other items that may not have official permission to do so. They are hoping you will give them large amounts of cash so they can confuse you with change; they will be relentless in asking for more money for items of little to no value. In addition, non-�山�ּ� sanctioned religious organizations may arrive and set up to recruit members. We caution that these organizations are not authorized by the University and community members should always contact University Police so we may verify if they belong here or escort them off our campuses.

Remember:

• No organizations should be asking you for credit information, identification materials or banking information unless they are at an authorized sales point of the University.
• Never go to an off-campus location with an organization doing outreach on campus or to one that is relentless in their solicitation.
• Do not give cash to someone that is trying to sell you an item that would ordinarily cost very little – they will not give you change and will take your money.
• Do not give your phone to someone or agree to text them if you don’t know them or care for further contact.
• Please exercise extreme caution if these items are requested. Giving personal information to any person is a choice, so never feel intimidated or fall for the scam.

Employment and Dating Scams

These scams are not selective of our University necessarily, but are generic in nature and targeted to vulnerable individuals. Scammers consistently target college-aged students and pretend to be University employees through email and apps such as Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram and sometimes include offers of employment, internships and dates.

Best Practices

A few recommendations to keep a safer profile:

• Be selective about what you share online and who you share it with.
• Be wary of messages from strangers. If you don’t know them, it’s best to ignore or block them.
• Know that people can pretend to be anyone online, and be conscious of catfishing.
• Do not share explicit photos of yourself, especially with someone you don’t know. Just because you believe it’s private doesn’t mean it always will be.
• Be suspicious of individuals who ask you to switch to a different platform to chat.
• Report suspicious accounts or behavior to the platform you are using and, if we can help, the University Police or the Information Technology team.
• Trust your instincts. If something sounds too good or too sketchy to be true, it probably is.

How to Protect Yourself

• If you receive an unsolicited job offer or monetary reward you should immediately be suspicious of this. Check the Career Services web page Avoid Job Scams and Fraud for more information. Also read Information Technology’s web page about Phishing.
• Never agree to accept money or buy gift cards at the instructions of someone you do not know or even someone whose name might seem familiar.
• Online solicitations that seem “too good to be true” are many times just that.
• Never send personal information, bank information or agree to transfers of any kind. If you should for some reason, understand clearly you may be solicited for more and that you may compromise your identity safety. Stop immediately and report this activity to the police.
• Heed the warnings and information sent by our partners in the �山�ּ� State University Division of Information Technology who have a wealth of resources and tips on the IT Security web page.

What’s “Sextortion?”

There is a common “sextortion” scam that is being seen in all corners of the globe. Scammers posting as young women or men begin a conversation flirting with an unsuspecting individual on TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram, ask the person to switch to another platform or app, and then solicit sexual pictures. When the photos or videos are sent, the scammer immediately sends a demand for money via Cashapp or Venmo and threatens to share the photos with the victim’s contacts on the app. In an online environment it can be difficult to navigate who is real and who is not. We strongly urge all to be sure they know who they are sending information or photos to.

If for some reason you find yourself in a situation where someone is demanding money – stop immediately and know the �山�ּ� State University Police Department and Bloomfield Campus Security will work to help you as best we can with care to your privacy. The scammers will be relentless for money and become threatening despite many times being thousands of miles away – your fear is real and we can help start the process of ending the harassment.

Rideshare Safety

Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are popular and advertise that safety is their number one priority in getting people from one place to another. While utilizing these services is a good alternative to walking home alone or worse, driving under the influence, it is important that you know how to do so safely. Following these guidelines can help you stay safe:

• Request your ride from indoors. Avoid lingering outside alone while looking down at your phone.
• Check your driver’s rating. Be sure that your driver has prior experience and a good rating.
• Share your trip with a trusted friend or family member. Share your whereabouts with someone other than who you’re with so they know when you make it home safely.
• Confirm the car, license plate and driver before getting in. Be sure the information on your rideshare app about your driver matches the vehicle you get into.
• Ask the driver “What is my Name?” This simple question may keep you safe.
• Sit in the back seat. Sitting in the front seat increases your proximity and chance of contact with the driver.
• Wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts are there to protect you in the event of an accident. Buckle up.
• Keep your personal information confidential. There’s nothing wrong with conversing with your driver, just plan to leave your personal information out of the conversation.
• Never pay cash. Taking out your wallet to tip may put you at risk of theft. Uber and Lyft offer the ability to tip through their app.
• Know your surroundings. When you’re in an unfamiliar area, track your route on your own map to be sure the driver is taking you to the correct place.

The What’s My Name Foundation was founded in honor of the life of Samantha Josephson, a 21 year old senior at the University of South Carolina who was kidnapped and murdered by a fake rideshare driver. Their mission is to educate those who use rideshares on ways to be safe.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact University Police at 973-655-5222 or the Bloomfield Office of Security at 973-655-2525. You can also use the E-TIPS texting service.

Chief Kieran Barrett
Chief of Police and Associate Vice President
�山�ּ� State University Police Department
Student Development and Campus Life