IDENTIFYING SCAMMERS It's peak Scam Season. The newest approach is to ask if your place is still available and would you send pictures. As always the request is accompanied by the usual explanations why they want to rent sight unseen. Don't send pictures.

The "Grace Martins" scam is also making the rounds again, as are the usual other variations of the "my father is going to send you a check" to hold an apartment scam. There is usually a heart wrenching and seemingly plausible story offered. They're all scams. Just forward them along. I'll add them to the Scammers List.

As we approach the end of the spring term there will be an uptick in scams from folks who claim to be coming to the University to do "research". Ask them for their academic department and for the name of the faculty member they're working with. Most will not answer this direct question. Forward these "suspect" emails to OCSS@sacl.umass.edu and report them to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center. Click here for the list of Recently Reported Scammers