Tips to Avoid Scams & Fraud
Several individuals have reported receiving phone calls from scammers claiming to
be the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) or other various law enforcement agencies, demanding large sums of money. If
you receive a call like this, hang up immediately. It is a scam.
Government and law enforcement officials will never threaten you or ask for money
over the phone or in an email. Do not give payment over the phone, by wire transfer
or in gift cards to anyone who claims to be one of these officials. All requests for
official payments will arrive by mail on government/law enforcement stationery.
Others have also reported housing and rental scams, where they were asked to transfer
money before they start their program to a fraudulent realtor or landlord. Be aware
of advertisements with spelling and grammatical errors and suspiciously low advertised
prices. It is important to do a search on the owner, real estate management company,
and housing listing. Do not give your personal information or Social Security number
to a property owner without verifying their identity.
The best way to protect yourself from being a victim of a payment scam is it be extra
vigilant. If you are unsure if a request is a scam or not, please contact the University
Police Department at (631) 632-6350 or Visa and Immigration Services at (631) 632-4685
or vis@stonybrook.edu.
If you receive a threatening call from someone claiming to be a government or law
enforcement official:
- Do NOT give out your personal or financial information
- Get contact information from the caller (name, badge number, telephone number)
- End the conversation immediately if threats / intimidation continue
- Contact the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line
- Complete the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Form
- J-1 Exchange visitors should complete an incident report and email it to AGalert@state.gov
Please review the following information to ensure you are protecting your identity
and information:
Tips from the Inspector General's Office
How to Recognize Rental and Housing Scams
Preventing Identity Theft
Types of Imposter Scams