UMPD has seen an increase in ticket scams through social media platforms and GroupMe chats, including scams involving concert tickets and parking permits. Scammers may offer tickets at a great price, claim they are a student, or pressure you to send money quickly.
Once you send the money, you may never receive the ticket, and your money may be gone for good.
Buying Concert or Event Tickets?
- Do not buy tickets from someone you do not know or trust.
- Be cautious when purchasing tickets through Instagram, Facebook, GroupMe, Snapchat, or other social media platforms.
- Never let someone pressure you into sending money immediately.
- Be especially careful with payment methods that offer little or no protection.
- If you are considering a purchase from an unknown person, meet with the person in person before sending any money.
- For your safety, consider meeting at the UMPD station, which is open 24/7, and contact UMPD if you have concerns.
Parking Tickets & Permits
- Do not purchase parking tickets or permits from individuals on social media, GroupMe, or other unofficial sources.
- Only purchase parking permits through the University of Miami Parking & Transportation Office and its official systems.
- If someone offers to sell you a University parking permit or ticket, do not send them money. Verify the offer directly with Parking & Transportation first.
Remember
If the deal is too good to be true, it's probably a scam.
A screenshot, social-media profile, student ID, or GroupMe connection does not guarantee that a seller is legitimate.
When in doubt, come to the UMPD station before sending money.
Identity theft is on the rise. Thieves steal personal information, credit card data, bank account data, bank loans and even jobs. The damage can be extensive, both financially and personally, and can take years to correct. If you are the victim of identity theft, remember that no matter how frustrating the situation becomes, there is hope.
There are steps, however, that the police cannot take for you. The following is information to get you started.
How Identity Theft Happens
- Stealing your wallet or purse to obtain your driver’s license, credit cards, debit cards, or other identification.
- Going through your trash to find bank statements, tax documents, or other personal records.
- Using card skimmers at ATMs, gas pumps, and other payment terminals to capture your debit or credit card information.
- Accessing information from your phone when you connect to unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks.
- Phishing through fake emails, text messages, websites, or phone calls designed to trick you into providing passwords, account numbers, or other personal information.
- Gathering information from social media by viewing your posts, photos, profiles, or other publicly available details.
- Using online quizzes, surveys, or fake forms to convince you to provide personal information that can be used to identify or impersonate you.
How to Protect Yourself
- Don’t respond to calls, texts, emails, or social media messages from people you don’t know.
- Never share personal information, such as your bank account number, Social Security number, or date of birth.
- Check your mail regularly. If you are away, place your mail on hold.
- Check your bank and credit card accounts for unusual or unauthorized charges.
- Keep important personal documents in a secure place. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet.
- Shred documents that contain personal information before disposing of them.
How to Report Identity Theft
To report identity theft, contact:
- File a report with the Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3) and the Identity Theft website.
- The three major credit reporting agencies below. Ask them to place fraud alerts and a credit freeze on your accounts.
- The fraud department at your credit card issuers, bank, and other places where you have accounts
Use IdentityTheft.gov’s list of steps to help you recover.
Scams
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Credit Bureaus
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EQUIFAX
Credit Report
800-685-1111
Fraud Report
800-525-6285
WEB: www.equifax.com
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EXPERIAN
Credit Report
888-397-3742
Fraud Report
888-397-3742
WEB: www.experian.com
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TRANS UNION
Credit Report
800-916-8800
Fraud Report
800-680-7298
WEB: www.tuc.com
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Sextortion is a type of online blackmail. Someone may convince you to send private or sexual photos or videos and then threaten to share them unless you pay money or send more images.
They may threaten to post the images online or send them to your friends, family, or others.
How Sextortion Happens
- Fake social media accounts pretending to be friends, students, or romantic interests.
- False promises or gifts, such as modeling jobs or other opportunities, used to convince someone to send private images.
- Secretly recording or obtaining images and then threatening to share them unless demands are met.
- Moving conversations to private apps, such as Snapchat, to make the activity harder to detect.
Prevention and Safety Tips
- Be careful online: Avoid sharing intimate photos, videos, or personal information with people you don’t know.
- Verify who you’re talking to: People online may not be who they claim to be.
- Use privacy settings: Keep your social media accounts private and block suspicious or unwanted contacts.
- Don’t give in to threats: Paying money or sending more images may lead to additional demands.
- Save the evidence: Take screenshots of messages, profiles, usernames, and threats. Do not delete them.
- Get help: Tell someone you trust and report the situation to law enforcement or the appropriate support resources.
How to Report Sextortion
Contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.
