Scammers target WSU student athletes

Authorities reported that student athletes at Washington State University (WSU) are being targeted by a new scam.

WSU Police posted this message on Facebook:

Attention parents of student-athletes: We have received reports of a scam where individuals posing as members of a ‘police department’ or the NCAA are calling parents, claiming their child has been arrested. They then request bail money to keep the incident out of the press. THIS IS A SCAM! Do not send any money or provide personal information. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from fraud.

“Anytime we get a hint of one of these, we alert the public,” Dawn Daniels, Assistant chief of WSU Police, told MyNorthwest. “We’ve had students fall victim to various versions of these, and we try to prevent them whenever possible.”

WSU scammers often ask for pre-paid money cards

Daniels said the requests for money can run into the thousands of dollars.

“They ask for pre-paid money cards, which should be the first indication that this is a scam,” Daniels explained.

If students get one of these calls, they are asked to call WSU Police. Daniels also advises checking the Federal Trade Commission website and filing the information.

Daniels said her best advice is, “Don’t give information out over the phone.” She said to look up the supposed source of the call and check to see if the communication was legitimate.

Maybe the best advice of all: “If a scammer says they will give you money if you provide certain information, don’t do it. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is,” she said.

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