Scam Prevention: Stay Alert 

How to Prevent Being Scammed

Maintain your awareness when interacting with strangers on the phone, online and through email. If you start to notice the pattern described in the 4 P's, use the following methods to shut down and end the conversation:

"B.A.R.S."

• Block
• Use your phone, email or social media settings to block unknown phone numbers, accounts and email addresses.
• Avoid
• Do not share your personal information with anyone you don’t know. Avoid giving sensitive personal or financial information or money in any form (including cryptocurrency and gift cards) to someone when you didn’t expect the request.
• Resist
• It can be difficult to stand up to pressure or threats but resist the temptation to give in to them. It’s okay not to be polite when you are protecting yourself. You have a right to stand up for yourself.
• Seek
• Seek help from a trusted friend or campus resource, such as your SISS advisor, if you think something might be a scam, and if you think you are the victim of a scam, report it to the UC Davis Police Department.

Learn more about some common scams here

What to do if You Think Something Might be a Scam

Here are more details about how to handle specific situations. Remember: these suggestions can also be applied to other circumstances where you think you might be dealing with fraud.

If you receive a threatening call or message from someone claiming to be a government official, member of law enforcement, representative of a reputable company or organization, or representative of the university:

• Do not answer any personal questions or give any financial information
• Independently verify their phone number online, and call the organization to make sure you are talking to who you think you are
• If you receive a phone call from someone demanding money, accusing you of a crime, or threatening deportation, do not engage with the caller. Immediately hang up.
• Do not give money to anyone who contacts you like this without first getting advice from SISS or the UC Davis Police Department

If you find a housing opportunity that seems too good to be true:

• Avoid sending money in exchange for keys to see or rent a property
  • Rent payments or deposits are often due at the time of a lease signing, not before and never to secure an opportunity to see the property.
• Insist on meeting a landlord or property manager in person before signing a lease or paying any money
• Research the property and landlord before paying any money — ask for references, check property records, and read online reviews

If you receive a suspicious email or message from a stranger:

• Be suspicious of emails you didn’t expect to receive
  • Verify emails that ask for personal information by independently looking up the sender's contact information
  • Never click on unknown links or files in emails, text messages, or on social media sites
  • Never reveal your password to anyone
  • Beware of emails asking for login or other private or personal information

If you receive a job offer for a position you don't remember applying for:

The UC Davis Career Center has excellent information about what to look for and how to contact them if you think someone is offering you a job that doesn't exist.

Learn more about this at the Career Center

Signs the Email You Received is a Fake

• Generic email subject line: Legitimate emails usually have detailed subject lines. A vague subject line can be a key indicator of a scam.
• Suspicious URL: Hover over links included in emails to see the actual destination of the URL. Do not click links from unknown senders.
• Bad grammar/spelling: Scam emails often contain misspelled words and bad grammar. This is a sign that the email did not come from a legitimate person.
• Unnecessary urgency: Use your intuition, and if something "feels" wrong, consider calling the organization or office directly to validate the email. 
• Improper use of copyright or trademark: Watch for improper use of copyright or trademark information. This is used to make a scam email look official.