Fraudulent Activity Warning To The Vanguard Community

A public safety warning was sent out to faculty, staff, and the student body of Vanguard University last Thursday, warning the community of a young suspect posing as an OCC student attempting to make fraudulent ticket sales to local Orange County university communities.

“Do not purchase any tickets or provide him with your credit card information. If you did, immediately cancel your card through your bank and notify campus public safety,” Paul Turgeon, director of Campus Public Safety for Vanguard University says, in a statement that was released through an email blast to the Vanguard community.

 Attempting to collect money and credit card information, the suspect is attempting to sell tickets to upcoming functions, events, comedy shows, and more. The suspect has been claiming to represent the Associated Student Body of the university community he is scamming during his presentations and “selling pitches,” according to Coast Report Online.

The young suspect has been seen recently doing similar activities on the campuses of Santiago Canyon College, Coastline College, and Golden West College. Victims report that he accepts credit card payments through his cellular smart phone device and takes cash without issuing proof of purchase. A warning has been given across Orange County campuses to monitor your credit cards and report any suspicious activity that seems similar. Selling tickets to “Comedy Union,” and Paintball Pass tickets, the suspect is thought to have been seem at Citrus College last April, according to the Student Activities News Bulletin at Golden West College. “It is nerve racking that people my age are so desperate to make money that they are tricking those their own age. It can seem annoying to the person you’re doing business with but you really have to ask for proof of purchase and receipts whenever you make transaction over the internet or cell phones like that because fraud is common now!” Brehz Dulac, a student at OCC says. ID Theft and Fraud have become more dangerous because of the growth of technology. The correct term is cyber crime, which involves the use of technology to harass, steal, and forge  identities, according to StaySafeOnline.org.

 Steps that an individual can take to protect themselves from cyber crime include: canceling lost checks, double checking receipts and online statements, periodically changing online banking passwords and pin codes, and background checking those you do business with if they do not have proof of being affiliated with major organizations.

 When major cyber crime takes place, StaySafeOnline suggests contacting your local law enforcement to assist you with filing a formal report against multi-jurisdictional cybercrime. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) can be contacted for advice and evaluation on your reports. For larger claims, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will work specifically with identity theft victims.

 If you are a victim of cyber crime, seek out assistance through your bank, local law enforcement, or state and federal organizations.

 For the Vanguard University community, Turgeon is issuing a warning for young adults to be cautious on who and how they pay when spending their money and to report any suspicious activity to the Campus Public Safety department.

 Local Campus’ are asking anyone with more information on the subject to call:

Vanguard University Campus Public Safety: (714) 966-6799

Orange Coast College Campus Safety: (714) 432-5017

Golden West College Public Safety: (714) 895-8924