Yesterday at 10:40 a.m., a male student reported to University Public Safety that he was telephoned by solicitors who asked for his date of birth, social security number, parents' names and mother's maiden name, according to an email to the student body from the Department of Public Safety.
Public Safety also reported that other members of the University were contacted as well.
One of those, a senior who was contacted yesterday evening, said a woman with "a heavy Caribbean accent" called him and first asked for information that was public knowledge — his name, date of birth and telephone number.
When she began asking for other information, such as his parents' names and his annual income, he responded that he was uncomfortable giving that information. Next, the solicitor asked for his social security number. The student again responded he was uncomfortable with providing the information.
At that point, the woman told the student she was "going to get her supervisor," another woman with a similar but weaker accent. The woman supposedly again asked for the same information. After the student again refused to give the information, the caller hung up.
According to the crime report, the call came from telephone number 760-553-2062, a southern California number.
Identity theft is a growing problem, with damages in the billions of dollars each year.
The Public Safety email recommended that students never give others information such as their social security number or date of birth, as it can then be used to access an individual's finances such as bank accounts and credit cards.
Pubic Safety is investigating.
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