This semester, seven scammers were caught on campus trying to sell fake magazine subscriptions
(Photo Illustration Scott Chia)
By Caitlin Yilek, Staff Writer -- yilek12@up.edu
Junior Amelia Brasch was on her way to the Library when a stranger approached her.
"He looked rather normal, but not really like a student, so I assumed he was just visiting campus and maybe needed directions somewhere," Brasch said.
Brasch soon realized the stranger did not need her assistance finding his way around campus.
This fall, seven scammers have been caught on campus trying to swindle money out of UP students. All were male except one.
According to Harold Burke-Sivers, director of Public Safety, has seen scammers on campus since he first started working here 10 years ago.
"They usually come to campus once or twice a year," Burke-Sivers said.
According to Brasch, the man asked her if she thought of herself as a good person.
"I thought that it was an odd question but maybe (it was) some strategy to being personable," Brasch said.
Next, the man told Brasch that he was trying to raise money to buy textbooks and he received money by earning points. Then, he asked Brasch to answer a few questions for him.
"He started asking me questions about where I would like to visit and what magazines I read," Brasch said. "He asked me to pick one (magazine) in particular."
The man started writing a receipt and said it would be tax deductable.
"That's when I realized it was a scam," Brasch said. "He said nothing initially about buying anything from him."
Brasch did not give the scammer any more information than her name.
Burke-Sivers says that most of the scammers are college-aged youth from out-of-state.
"They talk cool and hip to try and blend in," Burke-Sivers said.
About three to four years ago, a UP student had his bank account drained because he gave the scammers his information, Burke-Sivers said.
"Don't fall for it," Burke-Sivers said. "You do not order a magazine through someone, you (would) go to the magazine's website if you wanted to subscribe."
A man also approached senior Sammi Boyd on campus.
"He said he was doing a magazine fundraiser, like we did when we were little," Boyd said. "I gave him 20 or 30 dollars, I don't remember,"
Boyd says she never received her magazine subscription.
Usually the scammers are found near The Cove where students congregate. Once Public Safety is informed of the scammers, they are "trespassed" and asked to leave campus. When the scammers are "trespassed" they are not allowed to come back on campus. If they do, they will be arrested.
"We take their photos and escort them off campus," Burke-Sivers said. "We also send their photos to other schools."
According to Burke-Sivers, the Portland Police Bureau is not notified when a scammer first appears on campus because he has not technically broken the law.
"We take a proactive role in removing them from campus before they become a problem," Burke-Sivers said. "If they actually did scam someone, then the Portland Police Bureau would be contacted."
