Colleges and universities in the area have received reports of online job solicitations and in-person check cashing scams which have resulted in persons being defrauded of money from their personal bank accounts. These incidents have involved individuals receiving emails advertising job opportunities or individuals have been approached and asked to help a stranger to cash or deposit checks at ATMs.

Campus community members are strongly encouraged to avoid responding to job postings or individuals who are seeking assistance with cashing checks, purchasing gift cards, and/or sending money using money transfer companies.=’

Police remind members of the Hampton University community to follow these safety precautions:

• Do not participate in job soliciting emails requesting you to deposit checks into your personal bank account;
• Do not agree to cash or deposit checks using your personal bank account for individuals you do not know;
• If you feel uneasy about a situation, trust your instincts and remove yourself;
• If it sounds too good to be true, or you will receive “free money,” it is very likely not a valid job or request;
• Contact Hampton University Police if you have any concerns of the legitimacy of a solicitation;
• Report suspicious activity to police by phone or anonymously via the LiveSafe mobile App (available as a free download).

For more information about HU’s recommended best practices for staying safe online, check out HamptonU Computing Safety and Security  . 

If you are a victim of a similar incident please contact HUPD at 757-727-5300 or UNIVERSITY.POLICE@HAMPTONU.EDU