CAMPUS WATCH: Below is a summary of campus activity reported to or observed by the University Police Department patrol officers between Tuesday, 05-13-08 and Wednesday, 05-14-08. SEAY BUILDING, 108 East Dean Keeton Criminal Trespass Warning: A non-UT subject was discovered sleeping at the southwest entry way into the building. The subject was awakened and the officer issued the subject a written Criminal Trespass Warning. Occurred on: 5-14-08, at 1:00 AM. TRINITY PARKING GARAGE, 1815 Trinity Ave Criminal Trespass Warning: A non-UT subject was seen rummaging through trash cans located on the 4th level. During the investigation, the officer issued the subject a written Criminal Trespass Warning and escorted him from the campus area. Occurred on: 5-13-08, at 11:45 PM. Crime Prevention Tip of the Day: On Monday, 5-12-08, UTPD learned about a new variation to an old scam. Since Monday, I have learned that there have been more UT students that have received this same scam through postings made on the Internet. This scam appears to be widespread with several consistent ties: - UT student offering tutoring services - UT student advertising their services over the internet - UT student being contacted by an individual that lives out of the country but whose child lives in the United States. - The individual wants to provide the "best" for their child and wants to verify that the UT student is qualified to teach their child. - UT student is offered / sent more money than agreed upon and is asked to send the difference back These con artists are counting on several things in order to facilitate this scam. - Greed on the part of the intended victim - Naiveté on the part of the of the intended victim Several additional UT students have reported having received this scam, as well as to talking with the con artist. When the student has insisted that the con artist use PayPal or other similar service, the con artist simply goes away. If you are advertising your services on the Internet, develop a very simple action plan. - Ask questions, ask lots of questions - Keep the conversation professional and on track - Never agree to having checks or money orders sent directly to your home or office - Insist upon using PayPal or other similar online paying services. (Remember, they found you on the Internet, they have access to these services as well.) - If you chose to except the check or money order, wait until has cleared the banking system before sending any overpayments back to the sender. CAMPUS WIDE: Non-Criminal Calls: In addition to the above criminal cases, The University of Texas Police Department responded to 10 alarm calls, 2 suspicious person reports, 3 suspicious activity reports, and 4 unsecured door reports between 05-13-08 and 05-14-08. Contact UT Police at 471-4441 if you have any information regarding any of the above incidents or call 911 regarding suspicious persons, suspicious activities or crime. Your call may help solve or prevent a crime. Campus Watch comments should be directed to Officer Darrell Halstead at 512-232-9634 or Darrell.halstead@austin.utexas.edu . Prepared by DWH To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/subscribe.php
