Police at the University of Central Florida are alerting students to a recent phone scam where callers claim a loved one is in imminent danger.
According to police, the scammers say a family member is in a life or death situation and demand immediate action, generally in the form of a money transfer. The phone calls usually come from an area code outside of the United States.
“If you receive this type of call, resist the urge to panic, and contact your relatives to determine whether the call is legitimate,” UCFPD said in an email to students.
UCFPD warns never to give out credit card information or wire money to someone you don’t know, especially if the request comes in the form of a phone call or email from overseas. Also, always make sure a website is trusted and secure before you make any financial transactions or enter personal information, such as your Social Security number, phone number or home address.
Any suspicious behavior can be reported to the UCF Police Department at 407-823-5555.
