To the University Community,
The University Police Division is asking you to remain vigilant, as we have received several reports of a phone scam impersonating local law enforcement.
The caller told the victim they had outstanding warrants and needed to pay money immediately to avoid arrest. The scammer then instructed the victim to stay on the phone while the victim withdrew cash and deposited it into a Bitcoin machine.
While this is the tactic this scammer is using, please keep in mind that scams are ever-changing and may include claims that the recipient of the call has unpaid court fines, outstanding warrants, or that you need to provide personal and financial details to verify insurance or other resources.
We want to remind you that the University Police Division will never contact you and demand money under any circumstance. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a member of law enforcement and requesting payment via wire transfer, gift cards, cash apps, cryptocurrency, or any other means, do not send money or engage with them.
If you receive a call like this:
- Hang up immediately.
- Do not send money of any kind or share personal information with the caller.
- Contact the police directly to verify the call.
- If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam, please report it to UVA Police at 434-924-7166.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and your continued commitment to safety.
Sincerely,
Timothy J. Longo Sr.
Associate Vice President for Safety and Security and Chief of Police