Are you a student at the University of Wisconsin at River Falls who’s received a phone call saying that there was a drug bust where your name came up, have a warrant that needs to be taken care of, or owe taxes due to your financial aid? Then be careful! Tactics change, but scammers and scams are eternal.

To that end, the University of Wisconsin at River Falls is putting out a phone scam alert to its students, faculty, and staff after it was contacted by the River Falls Police Department with the news that the police department’s phone number was “being spoofed” for use in phone scams. Students receiving a bogus phone call for drugs may be told that they need to pay a fine or bond to the police department, be asked for photos or other information. Don’t do it! “DO NOT give out any personal information over the phone or send money,” Chief Karl Fleury of the university police tells students in a safety alert dated September 13, 2020 located on the college website. “As always, we never contact people by phone demanding money, nor does the River Falls Police Department or other Law Enforcement agencies.” Fleury goes on to say that students who received such a call don’t need to contact the UWRF police, but only call and file a report “if you have lost money from this scam.”

Those with questions or concerns related to this may contact the UWRF police at 715-425-3133.