College students are being targeted in a new scam that lures them in with the promise of tickets to sports or concert events and leaves them empty-handed. If you fall for their tricks, the scammers not only get your money but they also steal your identity. The university’s Division of Public Safety has urged everyone to be cautious and protect themselves from this growing scam.

How The Scam Works

Scammers pretend to be college students selling tickets on GroupMe, a messaging service—like WhatsApp or Telegram—which they use to target students. However, please note that this scam can be pulled off from any social media or chat service.

First, the scammer advertises that they have a ticket to sell, usually to a very popular event and for a decent price. When you take the bait, the scammer then asks you to provide your email address and a photo with your student ID to “prove that you're a real person.” After taking your money, the scammer fails to deliver the ticket (which never existed in the first place), then ignores or blocks you on the messaging service.

Using the email and photo they got from you, the scammer can more convincingly pose as a student. They move on to their next victim, and the cycle repeats.

Protect Yourself

Don’t purchase things online from people who advertise on social media or messaging apps. It’s much too easy for scammers to pretend to be someone they’re not and offer goods that they don’t have.

Another way to protect yourself is by learning more about cybersecurity at Cornell. If your Cornell NetID is compromised in a scam, it could be used to initiate a bigger security breach. Contact the IT Security Office if you believe your NetID has been stolen.

In the event that you’ve been scammed and have lost money, or accidentally handed over your personal information to a cybercriminal, take the steps recommended by the Federal Trade Commission to report the crime and minimize the damage.