UMPD News
News and Information about the University of Maryland Police Department
UMD Advisory: Information on how to recognize a scam
Dear Campus Community,
We write to you to make you aware of various scams that have been reported in our area.
There are different methods a scammer will use to contact a potential victim. The scammer may call, send an email or might even approach the potential victim in person. The goal of the scammer is to use fear or pity to try to convince the potential victim to comply with the scammer’s demands.
For example:
- If someone you don’t know mails you a check or approaches you in person and asks you to cash a check for them; don’t. It’s a scam.
- If someone you don’t know asks you to cash a check and use a wire transfer service to send the money back to them after cashing the check for them; don’t. It’s a scam.
- You receive a call from a scammer claiming to be from a government agency (federal, state, or local) and you need to make a payment in order to avoid being jailed, deported, fined, or that you owe taxes; or a family member is in need of help or tech-support and they demand gift cards in the form of payment; don’t. It’s a scam.
Important things to remember:
- Gift cards are for gifts, not payments.
- The IRS will never call to demand payment, such as prepaid debt cards, gift cards or wire transfer. The IRS will first contact you via the mail with a bill to any taxpayer that owes taxes.
- If you find yourself on the phone with a scammer, hang up.
Below are some helpful resources and videos form the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS):
- Paying Scammers with Gift Cards
- Anatomy of a Fake Check Scam
- Asked to Pay by Gift Card? Don't.
- The IRS is Calling Me? Is this for Real?
- IRS Impersonation Scam Update
- Report Gift Cards Used in a Scam - FTC
- Government Imposter Scams
UMD Advisory: See Something, Say Something - Report Suspicious Activity
Dear Campus Community,
You may be aware that suspicious packages were sent to various locations along the east coast over the past few days. The University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) has no reason to believe that the University of Maryland campus is a target.
Our Explosives Detection K-9 Unit and Patrol Officers continue to patrol our campus community and remain vigilant.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has released a statement and can be viewed here. What we know is that between October 22 and 24, 2018, suspicious packages were received at various locations along the east coast. All of the packages involved had the same return address located in Florida, and contained potentially destructive devices. A picture of the device available from a news site can be viewed here.
We remind our campus community that if you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity/packages right away to UMPD by calling 301-405-3333 or #3333 from your cell phone. You may also report suspicious activity through the UMD Guardian app by calling or texting UMPD. And, as a reminder, do not touch, move or handle any suspicious packages.
###
10/24/18 UMD Safety Notice
INCIDENT: Voyeur Incident
OCCURRED: October 23, 2018/ Approximately 8:10 p.m.
LOCATION: 4300 Block of Rowalt Drive near Guilford Drive
UMPD CASE #: 2018-60383
BRIEF DETAILS:
On October 23, 2018, at approximately 8:21 p.m., the University of Maryland Police Department was notified about a voyeur incident that occurred in the 4300 block of Rowalt Drive near Guilford Drive. A female student reported to police that at approximately 8:10 p.m., a male was seen looking through an apartment window.
Officers responded and searched for the male, but could not locate the individual. A video review of the cameras in the area is underway. Officers continue to patrol the area for the suspect.
The University of Maryland Police Department, Criminal Investigations Unit is conducting an investigation. Individuals with any information regarding this incident are encouraged to contact police at 301-405-3555. Individuals wishing to remain anonymous may email http://www.umpd.umd.edu/contact/anonymous_tip.cfm .
When available for release, additional information, may be obtained by accessing the "UMD Safety Notice" portion of our web site: http://universityofmarylandpolice.com/stats/safety_notices.cfm and http://umpdnews.umd.edu/home
Safety Tips:
The University of Maryland Police Department provides a walking escort service for anyone who feels unsafe when walking on or near campus. If you would like a walking escort, please call to request one at 301-405-3555. You may also use a blue light emergency phone to call for an escort.
Stay alert and attuned to people and circumstances around you.
Trust your instincts. They are a natural gift that tells you when something is wrong.
If you observe suspicious activity or behavior, contact the police immediately by calling #3333 from a mobile phone or 301-405-3333.
See Something, Say Something!
Be Smart, Be Safe!
Download the UMD Guardian app through the Google Play store or the Apple App Store. You can create a virtual safety escort or you can text a tip to UMPD.
Safety Resources:
University of Maryland Police Department
Emergency Number 301-405-3333/ #3333 from a mobile phone/ 911
Prince George's County Police Department
911 from mobile phone / 301-352-1200 (non-emergency) / 911
UMD Police Walking Escort
Non-Emergency: 301-405-3555
NITE Ride
301-314-6483
http://www.transportation.umd.edu/niteride.html
Help Center (Peer Counseling & Crisis Intervention)
301-314-4357
Counseling Center
301-314-7651
Campus Advocates Respond and Educate to Stop Violence (CARE)
301-741-3442
http://www.health.umd.edu/care
Health Center
301-314-8180
Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct (OCRSM)
UMD Alerts
Sent by email via UMD Alerts to UMD Students/Faculty/Staff
UMPD to participate in the DEA’s Drug Take Back event
UMPD and DEA taking back unwanted prescription drugs October 27 at Pocomoke Building
College Park, MD – On Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the University of Maryland Police Department (UMPD) and the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public its 16th opportunity in eight years to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills for disposal to the Pocomoke Building at 7569 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD. (The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.) The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
Last spring Americans turned in nearly 475 tons (949,046 pounds) of prescription drugs at more than 5,800 sites operated by the DEA and almost 4,700 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 15 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in almost 10 million pounds—nearly 5,000 tons—of pills.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 27 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com .
For questions regarding this press release, please contact the Public Information Officer, Sgt. Rosanne Hoaas at 301-405-9960 or email rhoaas@umpd.umd.edu .
###
Join us on Saturday, October 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Drug Take Back event. Turn in your expired or unwanted prescription drugs for safe disposal. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Stop by our station (7569 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD) to drop off your prescription medication(s) for disposal.
Please note: The DEA cannot accept liquids or needles or sharps, only pills or patches.
UPDATE: We collected approximately 75lbs. of unused pharmaceuticals.
Pages
