University of Washington police are warning parents about scam phone calls that appear on caller ID to come from UWPD. The caller falsely claims the student is in legal trouble and immediately needs money.
UWPD has received multiple reports of these calls recently from parents of student athletes.The caller identifies themselves as a UW police officer or sergeant and says that the student has been stopped or is being arrested. The caller then instructs parents to send bail money via a mobile payment service.
This is a social engineering scam, which tries to elicit a response through fear. Do not provide personal information, money, gift cards or anything of value to the caller. UWPD will never call and request funds. Do not engage with the caller and immediately hang up. If you are concerned, contact the person who the caller claimed was in trouble directly.
If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be from UW police, please call the UW police non-emergency number at 206-685-8973 and report the call to your local law enforcement agency.