A recent online scam appeared early this year, disguised as job offers or tolls, uses personal information to fraudulently open OnePay credit card accounts with Synchrony Bank. GCSU affiliates should be wary of this, as USG college systems have been the most common targets.
Students and employees across Georgia universities are at risk for potential identity theft and credit fraud. The scams, often sent via email or text, have led to fake accounts being created under victims’ names. University officials are working with local and state law enforcement agencies on the investigation, as this presents a risk for GCSU affiliates.
Reports from affected individuals and university alerts say the scammers commonly pose as employers offering easy and high-paying remote jobs, university departments requesting personal information or government agencies issuing fake toll violations and fees. The true number of affected victims is unknown due to possible underreporting.
College students are often targeted in these types of identity theft schemes because they likely have a limited credit history and frequently use university-affiliated email addresses for jobs, financial aid and other official communication.
These scammers take advantage of the fact that students rely heavily on digital platforms, as well as their openness to remote employment with quick and easy income opportunities. Additionally, many students are learning how to manage finances independently for the first time, which can make fraudulent activities harder to detect.
According to The Red & Black, UGA’s student newspaper, a call was made to UGAPD on Jan. 7 regarding a student having multiple credit cards fraudulently opened in her name. The police report states that multiple students have reported similar incidents. Some GCSU students have experienced receiving these texts and have not known the possible dangers.
“I honestly did not realize these questionable texts and emails were leading to things as serious as identity theft,” said Elsa Smith, a sophomore education major.
UGAPD and the Office of Information Security advised students and staff in a campus alert email to exercise caution by asking for more information about questionable offers, refraining from opening attachments or links sent by unknown sources and relying on traceable methods of payment. It is also encouraged to use strong and unique passwords, as well as methods of multi-factor authentication.
Piper Weatherly, a sophomore biology major, says she has received multiple questionable text messages regarding state toll violations in the past. She explained how she knows of several people who also received these messages, in addition to herself.
“It was obvious to me that the text messages were not legit because I do not own a car under my name,” Weatherly said. “However, it is worrying that it might not be as obvious [to other people] that the messages are a scam.”
Katherine Lee, writer for The Red and Black, detailed USG Chief of Police A. Kerry Stallings’ advice to students in her recent article on the identity thefts.
“Stallings recommends checking bank account statements and reviewing credit with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion,” Lee said.
If students find suspicious activity, they should file a police report with the University of Georgia Police Department, email the Georgia attorney general’s office and contact the financial institution’s fraud department.
As the investigation continues, Synchrony Bank has not made any official responses or acknowledgements to the fraudulent accounts. University officials emphasize the importance of awareness and how it remains the most effective way to avoid being a victim of identity theft and financial fraud.
Students and employees alike should be cautious when receiving unsolicited emails and texts, especially those requesting personal information, and those who discover suspicious activity are advised to report it immediately to avoid potential damage. Protecting personal information is a shared responsibility, and attentiveness and caution remain key as these digital scams continue to evolve. GCSU’s IT officials encourage students to report any suspicious emails immediately and verify with IT directly before sharing any sensitive information online.
