Phone scam hits EMU campus

When the phone rings in a dorm room, are students always aware of who's on the other line? The exposure of a recent telemarketing scam at EMU should put everyone on the alert.

During the month of September, call records indicate that nearly 900 calls from the same phone number were received across campus. While many of the calls went to voicemail or were hung up on by students, the calls that did reach the students began as a typical telemarketing call but ended by asking for personal information.

The caller would ask for information such as home address and credit card number and eventually lead up to asking for a Social Security number. According to Linda Alley, administrative assistant in Student Life, most students eventually hung up on the caller. For some students, though, the caller gave the impression that they were associated with EMU and students ended up giving out some personal information.

The first record of calls from this number was on Sept. 1, according to User Services Administrator Andrew Hershberger. However, the calls could have started before then. Since administration officials generally do not go through incoming call logs, the problem was not discovered until the third week in September, when a few students commented on the problem to Alley.

Hershberger has asked the telemarketing firm to remove EMU from its calling list. The calls stopped around noon on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Hershberger has also blocked this firm from calling each student extension; however, only the one number that the telemarketers were calling from is blocked. It is possible they may switch to another extension and begin calling the campus again.

Preventive measures are being taken. Eldon Kurtz, director of Physical Plant, has been in touch with Harrisonburg Police Department and consumer complaint representatives in this area who report to the U.S. Attorney General's office. "In order to enjoy the freedom to receive calls, persons need to take responsibility to be alert and protect the information that they give out," said Kurtz.

All students should have received an e-mail from Hershberger concerning the Do Not Call Registry. Students can register their phone number to be taken off telemarketing call lists. Faculty and staff cannot register their extension on this list, as the Do Not Call Registry does not apply to businesses.

Telemarketing scams of this nature can lead to identity theft, which is becoming more and more prominent. "The easiest way to prevent this is to hang up on telemarketers," said Hershberger. "If anyone calls you and you don't feel comfortable giving out personal information, then don't. If someone says they are from EMU, ask them their name and what department they work in. If you're not sure they're legit, ask if you can call them back."

"Students need to know about the danger of phone scams and identity theft," Alley said. "Students need to be aware of safeguarding their personal information, especially Social Security number, bank and credit card numbers."