Scams

A government official impersonation scam is a type of fraud in which scammers pretend to be representatives of a government agency or law enforcement organization to trick people into providing money, personal information, or access to accounts.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting a victim by phone, email, text message, or even social media. They may claim to be from agencies such as the IRS, FBI, Social Security Administration, a student's embassy, or local police.
• Using intimidation or urgency—saying the victim owes taxes, has a warrant, or needs to verify their identity—to pressure them into acting quickly.
• Demanding immediate payment via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
• Asking for sensitive information like Social Security numbers or bank details.
• Spoofing caller ID or email addresses to appear legitimate.
• Accusing the victim of committing a crime you haven’t committed.
• Asking to monitor activity through a Skype or Zoom call.

Key warning signs:

• Communication comes by text or social media--official government communication usually comes by mail.
• Commonly, the amounts of money demanded are under $10,000.
• Demanding payment over the phone or threatening arrest.

What you can do:

• Remember, real government agencies will not:
  • Contact you by phone, text message, or social media.
  • Ask for payment in the form of gift cards or cryptocurrency.
• Do not answer robocalls. Typically, if someone answers a robocall, their number is recorded as “live” by the scammer, which will lead to more scam phone calls.
• If you’ve answered a robocall or text message, stop engaging and hang up or block the number immediately.
• Never send money or share bank account information with someone who pressures you to act immediately.
• Do not share personal identification numbers, such as your Social Security number or passport information.
• Never use gift cards as a form of payment for someone claiming to be a government official.
• If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a government official, note their name and agency, then hang up. Contact DPSS to verify the request.

You can read more about government official impersonation scams at USA.Gov.

A ticket scam is a type of fraud in which scammers try to sell fake, stolen, or non-existent tickets to events in order to steal money or personal information. These scams often target fans looking for tickets.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting victims through online marketplaces, social media, or fake ticket websites.
• Posting listings that look legitimate or claim to have last-minute or discounted tickets.
• Creating urgency in their communications—claiming tickets are almost sold out or that the deal will expire soon—to pressure victims to pay quickly.
• Selling tickets through unofficial or unfamiliar websites.
• Asking for payment through cash apps, wire transfers, or gift cards.
• Sometimes they offer prices that seem unusually low or too good to be true.
• Sending fake or duplicate tickets that won’t scan at the venue.

Key warning signs:

• “Tickets” are sold outside of official team sites or by unauthorized vendors/resellers.
• Demanding fast payment or using untraceable methods. Legitimate sellers will not do this.
• Deals posted on social media or shared by unknown individuals.

What you can do:

• Ensure you’re buying a real ticket by purchasing from:
  • Official team sites
  • Authorized vendors
  • Verified resellers
• Avoid paying with cash, wire transfers, gift cards, or payment apps when dealing with unknown sellers.
• Double-check the event details and ticket legitimacy before paying.
• Watch out for deals found on social media or from unknown individuals. Report suspicious listings or sellers to the ticketing platform, your bank, or local authorities.
• Communicate with sellers through official U-M channels such as university email or Slack. Make sure their email ends with ' '@umich.edu' and not something like, 'johndoe.umich.edu@gmail.com'

You can read more about ticket scams on the ITS Safe Computing site.

A job offer scam is a type of fraud in which scammers pretend to be employers or recruiters to trick individuals into providing money, personal information, or access to their accounts. These scams often target job seekers looking for quick or high-paying employment opportunities.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting victims through email, phone calls, text messages, or social media. They may claim to be from well-known companies or post fake job listings on legitimate job boards.
• Creating a sense of urgency, saying the position is limited or that immediate action is required to secure the job.
• Asking for payment for training, equipment, or application processing.
• Requesting personal or financial information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, or copies of identification.
• Sending fake job offers, contracts, or official-looking documents to appear legitimate.
• Using email addresses or websites that closely resemble those of real companies.
• Emailing a check for deposit. It takes the bank 5-7 business days to clear a check, and any money sent during that time comes out of the victim’s personal money.

Key warning signs:

• The “employer” requires upfront payments for employment.
• Job offers are made without an interview or verification of qualifications.
• Communication is unprofessional, such as emails with spelling errors, generic greetings, or unusual sender addresses.

What you can do:

• Remember, legitimate employers do not require upfront payments for employment. Never pay money or provide financial information to secure a job.
• Do not share personal identification numbers, such as your Social Security number, passport, or driver’s license, unless you are certain the employer is legitimate.
• Be cautious of unsolicited job offers, especially those sent via email or social media.
• If you suspect a job offer is a scam, contact DPSS immediately to verify if the company is legitimate.

You can read more about job offer scams on the ITS SafeComputing site.

A housing scam is a type of fraud in which scammers pretend to be staff with Michigan Housing (or someone working with them) to trick people into paying for a housing contract that doesn’t exist, isn’t available, or is misrepresented. These scams often target students searching for housing.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting victims through email, social media, or text messages.
• Claiming to have a property available for rent and pressure the victim to act quickly by offering a “limited-time deal” or saying there are other interested renters.
• Asking for your name and student ID before you can view the property.
• Requesting a form to be filled out in order to secure a place with Michigan Housing.
• Using photos or descriptions copied from legitimate housing to make it seem real.
• Creating fake U-M websites, email addresses, etc., to appear trustworthy.

Key warning signs:

• They ask for money before signing a lease or seeing the property in person.
• The deal is sometimes “too good to be true.”
• Communication is only online or via text, with no opportunity to visit the property or meet the contact.
• Requests for payment through wire transfer, gift cards, or other untraceable methods.

What you can do:

• Never send money or personal information to someone you have not verified.
• Do not share personal identification numbers, such as your Social Security number or passport, unless you are certain the landlord is legitimate.
• Be cautious of individuals who pressure you to act quickly.
• Always look at the unit in person. If you can't make it there, ask for a live Zoom walkthrough of the unit. Be careful, it's not a pre-recorded video.
• Always check the URL to make sure it's an official U-M website.
• If a suspected housing scammer contacts you, contact DPSS to verify the housing is legitimate.

You can read more about housing scams on the ITS Safe Computing site.

A phishing scam is a type of fraud in which scammers try to trick people into sharing sensitive information, such as passwords, Social Security numbers, or bank account details, by pretending to be a trusted organization or contact. These scams target email users, social media accounts, and online banking customers.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting victims through email, text messages, phone calls, or social media messages claiming to be from banks, government agencies, online services, or employers.
• Creating a sense of urgency—such as warning of a security breach, account suspension, or an important payment due.
• Sending emails or messages with links to fake websites that look legitimate.
• Asking recipients to log in or provide personal information to “verify” accounts.
• Including attachments that contain malware or viruses.

Key warning signs:

• Emails or messages come from unknown senders or unexpected sources.
• Requests for passwords, Social Security numbers, or financial information.
• Links or attachments that seem suspicious or lead to unfamiliar websites.
• Spelling or grammar errors, generic greetings, or inconsistent sender addresses.

What you can do:

• Do not click on links or open attachments from unknown or unexpected sources.
• Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts for extra security.
• Regularly update passwords and monitor accounts for suspicious activity.
• If you receive a message you suspect is phishing, follow the steps from U-M Information Assurance on their Report Phishing & Email Abuse site.

Read more information about online safety on the DPSS Online Safety page or on the ITS Phishing and Scams page.

A scholarship and financial aid scam is a type of fraud in which scammers pose as scholarship providers, financial aid organizations, or college representatives to trick students and families into giving money or personal information. These scams often target students seeking grants, scholarships, or loans.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting victims through email, phone calls, text messages, or social media, claiming that the student has won a scholarship or is eligible for special financial aid, but must pay a fee or provide sensitive information to receive it.
• Creating urgency by saying the offer is limited or will expire soon.
• Asking for upfront fees for “processing” or “application” of a scholarship or grant.
• Requesting personal information, such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, or copies of identification.
• Sending fake award letters, emails, or official-looking documents.
• Pretending to be from a legitimate organization or university.

Key warning signs:

• Legitimate scholarships and financial aid do not require payment to apply or receive funds.
• High-pressure tactics or urgent deadlines are often a red flag.
• Unsolicited emails or messages promising guaranteed awards.
• Requests for sensitive personal or financial information before verification.

What you can do:

• Verify scholarships and financial aid opportunities through official school websites or trusted organizations.
• Never pay fees or provide bank or personal information to secure a scholarship.
• Do not share personal identification numbers, such as your Social Security number or passport, unless you are certain the organization is legitimate.
• Be cautious of unsolicited offers that sound too good to be true, especially any that guarantee awards.
• If a suspected scammer contacts you, contact DPSS. We can help verify that the financial aid is legitimate.

You can read more about these scams at the following resources:

• U-M’s International Center
• Avoiding Student Aid Scams
• Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams.

A sextortion scam is a type of fraud in which scammers threaten to share explicit images, videos, or personal information unless the victim pays money or provides additional sensitive material. These scams often target individuals online, using fear and embarrassment to coerce victims.

Common tactics include:

• Contacting victims through email, social media, messaging apps, or dating platforms claiming to have compromising content, such as videos recorded via a webcam or private photos, and demanding payment—often in cryptocurrency—to prevent the content from being shared.
• Claiming to have hacked the victim’s devices or accounts and recorded private activity.
• Threatening to release explicit images, videos, or personal information to friends, family, or the public.
• Demanding payment, usually in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency, to prevent exposure.
• Using urgent and intimidating language to pressure the victim into acting quickly.
• Sharing a nude photo and asking for one in return.

Key warning signs:

• Threats to release private content unless the victim pays money.
• Requests for cryptocurrency or other untraceable forms of payment.
• Claims of hacked accounts or devices without providing evidence.
• Unsolicited messages from strangers claiming to have compromising material.
• A conversation that turns to a request for an intimate photo or video very quickly.

What you can do:

• Do not respond to the scammer or pay any money.
• Do not open attachments from people you don't know.
• Never send compromising images of yourself to anyone.
• Change your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all accounts.
• Block the scammer, but preserve any evidence of the scam, such as emails, messages, or screenshots.
• Turn off your electronic devices and web cameras when you are not using them.
• If a suspected sextortion scammer contacts you, contact DPSS..

For more information on sextortion:

• ITS SafeComputing: Sextortion Scams
• FBI Sextortion Information
• Interpol Cybercrime
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

• U-M ITS Safe Computing Spot Phishing & Scams
• U-M ITS Report Phishing & Email Abuse
• U-M ITS Common Scams
• Student Life Off Campus-Beyond the Diag Scam Awareness
• UM-Dearborn Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams

• FBI Scam Information Page
• State of Michigan Scam Information Page
• Washtenaw County Scam Information Page