Consumer Alert: A New Scam Is Targeting Connecticut College Athletes and Their Families
HARTFORD – The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) are warning the public about a new scam targeting college athletes and their families.
Recently, Connecticut State University Police Departments have investigated incidents where a caller contacts a parent of a university student and identifies themselves as a member of the university’s police department. The caller states that their student athlete has been given citations for open container, curfew violation, and/or trespassing. The caller requests immediate payment in the form of CashApp, Venmo, or JPay.
A police department or campus safety program will never contact a parent and attempt to solicit payment for citations. If anyone receives suspicious calls or communication claiming to be law enforcement, hang up, and contact your local police department to report the scam. If you have fallen victim to this scam and provided personal information or money, contact your financial institution immediately.
“This is a classic scam, targeting individuals and their families whose information is publicly available, and creating a sense of urgency to provide immediate payment by impersonating a government agency and issuing a threat of severe penalties if payment is not received,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “At no point will a police department pressure you into paying a citation via an untraceable payment method.”
Deputy DESPP Commissioner Brenda Bergeron, who oversees the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said the department will continue to work closely with campus police and DCP to track scams and criminal activity.
“At DESPP, The Connecticut Intelligence Center tracks criminal trends and tactics and disseminates information to law enforcement and other public safety partners to help enhance the safety and security of our communities,’’ said Bergeron.
For more information, contact:
- Rick Green, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, 860-828-6681, richard.green@ct.gov
- Kaitlyn Krasselt, Department of Consumer Protection, (860) 713-6019 (office), (860) 377-0246 (cell), kaitlyn.krasselt@ct.gov