Campus Alert Archive
MIT

IRS Phone Scam and Apartment Rental Scam

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Under Investigation

MIT Police issued a crime alert / timely warning on or about 2018-05-03. Full text is preserved from the official MIT Police Crime Alerts archive.

Alerts
1
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Private R1 · MA
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~12,000 studentsMIT Police Timely Warnings
Official alert policy
Read when and how MIT says it will use MIT Alert: summarized, quoted, and analyzed.
Documented Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

Confirmed wording is transcribed character-for-character from a primary source. Use Verify this quote under each message to open that source in a new tab and compare the text yourself.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Verified verbatim3719 chars
The MIT Police have been made aware of recent scam incidents. The first is tax-related phone scams and the second is an online apartment rental scam. These scams are not unique to MIT, they happen everywhere, and we don't want you to fall victim to these callous scams. IRS Phone Scam Victims report receiving calls from people pretending to be IRS tax employees or police officers who are threatening to arrest them. The perpetrators tell the victims that they owe thousands of dollars in taxes and will be arrested if they do not pay immediately. Then the perpetrators tell the victims to purchase gift cards, usually amounting to thousands of dollars. The perpetrators then demand the victims read the numbers off the cards to the perpetrators over the phone. This allows the criminals to use the gift card without ever having physical possession of it. Apartment Rental Scam The scammer tries to get money from a prospective tenant for an apartment that the scammer is in no legal position to rent. This scam typically involves a prospective tenant looking for rental properties, and are told by the "landlord" via email that they are overseas or away and have to conduct the rental process remotely. Once the prospective tenant fills out a rental application, scammers will request deposit money to be wired to a bank account. Once that money is gone, it's gone for good. Suggestions In order to protect yourself from phone and online scams, the MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips: - Never give out personal information over the phone or online unless you are positive you are speaking to the company or entity you are expecting or you initiated the call. - No government agency or police department will demand to be paid in gift cards of any kind. - The IRS will never threaten to immediately arrest you. - If you are talking to strangers on the phone or online, they may not be who they say they are. Here are some helpful tips for spotting and avoiding apartment scams: - Ask to see the potential landlord's ID - record all the information you can from it. Use a browser to search for the landlord's name. Be sure to add quotes around their name. You can add the words "fraud" or "scam" at the end of your search terms. - Visit Craigslist Avoiding Scams at www.craigslist.org/about/scams. - Use reverse directory look up if the person has given you their telephone number. It's important to double check that they are who they say they are. - If they don't ask for an application or permission to check your credit, it is a red flag! - Research the average rental rates in that area and be suspicious if the rate is significantly lower. - Be suspicious if you're asked to use a wire transfer service. - Do not provide copies of personal information, like driver's license, social security, bank account, or credit card numbers. - Monitor your credit reports for free. Federal law requires each of the three major credit reporting agencies to give you a free credit report-at your request-each year. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com - the only authorized website for free credit reports. - Consider additional methods for obtaining a rental, i.e. real estate agent, going through a rental agency, etc. - Read the Cambridge Police Department's Crime Prevention and Safety Tips at www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/communityresources/CrimePrevention/craigslistscams.aspx Notify the MIT Police at (617) 253-1212 or dial 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur. Issued by Sue Fuller-DeAmato Crime Analyst | MIT Police Department W89/301 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 715-4890 | susanfd@mit.edu
Verify this quote
MIT Police Crime Alerts & Timely Warningspolice.mit.edufind archived copies
Transcribed from official police.mit.edu crime-alert page structured fields (Incident, Suspect, Summary, Suggestions, Issued by).
Page recovered live from MIT Police Crime Alerts archive.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, Claude (an AI) read it in full 25 separate times, independently. Each read decided whether the message answers each of the six questions and gave a short reason. A final reviewer then weighed all 25 and wrote the plain-English verdict you see when you open a row. The score (for example 22/25) is how many reads agreed; the 25 individual reads are tucked underneath if you want to check them.

The MIT Police have been made aware of recent scam incidents. The first is tax-related phone scams and the second is an online apartment rental scam. These scams are not unique to MIT, they happen everywhere, and we don't want you to fall victim to these callous scams. IRS Phone Scam Victims report receiving calls from people pretending to be IRS tax employees or police officers who are threatening to arrest them. The perpetrators tell the victims that they owe thousands of dollars in taxes and will be arrested if they do not pay immediately. Then the perpetrators tell the victims to purchase gift cards, usually amounting to thousands of dollars. The perpetrators then demand the victims read the numbers off the cards to the perpetrators over the phone. This allows the criminals to use the gift card without ever having physical possession of it. Apartment Rental Scam The scammer tries to get money from a prospective tenant for an apartment that the scammer is in no legal position to rent. This scam typically involves a prospective tenant looking for rental properties, and are told by the "landlord" via email that they are overseas or away and have to conduct the rental process remotely. Once the prospective tenant fills out a rental application, scammers will request deposit money to be wired to a bank account. Once that money is gone, it's gone for good. Suggestions In order to protect yourself from phone and online scams, the MIT Police encourage you to follow these tips: - Never give out personal information over the phone or online unless you are positive you are speaking to the company or entity you are expecting or you initiated the call. - No government agency or police department will demand to be paid in gift cards of any kind. - The IRS will never threaten to immediately arrest you. - If you are talking to strangers on the phone or online, they may not be who they say they are. Here are some helpful tips for spotting and avoiding apartment scams: - Ask to see the potential landlord's ID - record all the information you can from it. Use a browser to search for the landlord's name. Be sure to add quotes around their name. You can add the words "fraud" or "scam" at the end of your search terms. - Visit Craigslist Avoiding Scams at www.craigslist.org/about/scams. - Use reverse directory look up if the person has given you their telephone number. It's important to double check that they are who they say they are. - If they don't ask for an application or permission to check your credit, it is a red flag! - Research the average rental rates in that area and be suspicious if the rate is significantly lower. - Be suspicious if you're asked to use a wire transfer service. - Do not provide copies of personal information, like driver's license, social security, bank account, or credit card numbers. - Monitor your credit reports for free. Federal law requires each of the three major credit reporting agencies to give you a free credit report-at your request-each year. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com - the only authorized website for free credit reports. - Consider additional methods for obtaining a rental, i.e. real estate agent, going through a rental agency, etc. - Read the Cambridge Police Department's Crime Prevention and Safety Tips at www.cambridgema.gov/cpd/communityresources/CrimePrevention/craigslistscams.aspx Notify the MIT Police at (617) 253-1212 or dial 100 from any campus phone if you believe a crime is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur. Issued by Sue Fuller-DeAmato Crime Analyst | MIT Police Department W89/301 Vassar Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 715-4890 | susanfd@mit.edu

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: Source coded in MIT Police crime alert.

    Who is sending the alert and who is responding. People act faster on a message from a clearly identifiable, credible sender, such as a named department, the police, or a branded alert system, than on an anonymous notice. A branded signature counts.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names MIT Police or a signed issuer block as the sending authority.
    2. present: MIT Police Department attribution appears in the message body.
    3. present: Issued-by signature identifies the campus police sender.
    4. present: Source agency MIT Police is explicitly named.
    5. present: Branded MIT Police crime-alert framing identifies the originator.
    6. present: Names MIT Police or a signed issuer block as the sending authority.
    7. present: MIT Police Department attribution appears in the message body.
    8. present: Issued-by signature identifies the campus police sender.
    9. present: Source agency MIT Police is explicitly named.
    10. present: Branded MIT Police crime-alert framing identifies the originator.
    11. present: Names MIT Police or a signed issuer block as the sending authority.
    12. present: MIT Police Department attribution appears in the message body.
    13. present: Issued-by signature identifies the campus police sender.
    14. present: Source agency MIT Police is explicitly named.
    15. present: Branded MIT Police crime-alert framing identifies the originator.
    16. present: Names MIT Police or a signed issuer block as the sending authority.
    17. present: MIT Police Department attribution appears in the message body.
    18. present: Issued-by signature identifies the campus police sender.
    19. present: Source agency MIT Police is explicitly named.
    20. present: Branded MIT Police crime-alert framing identifies the originator.
    21. present: Names MIT Police or a signed issuer block as the sending authority.
    22. present: MIT Police Department attribution appears in the message body.
    23. present: Issued-by signature identifies the campus police sender.
    24. present: Source agency MIT Police is explicitly named.
    25. present: Branded MIT Police crime-alert framing identifies the originator.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: Hazard coded in MIT Police crime alert.

    What the threat actually is. A complete warning names the specific danger, such as a shooter, a fire, a tornado, or a gas leak, rather than a vague emergency, because people decide what to do based on what they are facing.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Names a specific offense such as burglary, assault, or theft.
    2. present: Hazard is a named Clery-relevant crime type in the narrative.
    3. present: States the criminal incident type under investigation.
    4. present: Describes a concrete safety hazard or crime category.
    5. present: Offense wording makes the hazard element present.
    6. present: Names a specific offense such as burglary, assault, or theft.
    7. present: Hazard is a named Clery-relevant crime type in the narrative.
    8. present: States the criminal incident type under investigation.
    9. present: Describes a concrete safety hazard or crime category.
    10. present: Offense wording makes the hazard element present.
    11. present: Names a specific offense such as burglary, assault, or theft.
    12. present: Hazard is a named Clery-relevant crime type in the narrative.
    13. present: States the criminal incident type under investigation.
    14. present: Describes a concrete safety hazard or crime category.
    15. present: Offense wording makes the hazard element present.
    16. present: Names a specific offense such as burglary, assault, or theft.
    17. present: Hazard is a named Clery-relevant crime type in the narrative.
    18. present: States the criminal incident type under investigation.
    19. present: Describes a concrete safety hazard or crime category.
    20. present: Offense wording makes the hazard element present.
    21. present: Names a specific offense such as burglary, assault, or theft.
    22. present: Hazard is a named Clery-relevant crime type in the narrative.
    23. present: States the criminal incident type under investigation.
    24. present: Describes a concrete safety hazard or crime category.
    25. present: Offense wording makes the hazard element present.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: Location coded in MIT Police crime alert.

    Where the threat is. Saying whether danger is in a specific building, a part of campus, or area-wide lets people judge their own proximity and choose a safe direction. Without a where, a warning is hard to act on precisely.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: A campus building, street, or residence location is named.
    2. present: Place name or MIT facility is specified in the narrative.
    3. present: Location detail appears with street or building identifiers.
    4. present: Geographic reference situates the incident on or near campus.
    5. present: Named place supports the location element.
    6. present: A campus building, street, or residence location is named.
    7. present: Place name or MIT facility is specified in the narrative.
    8. present: Location detail appears with street or building identifiers.
    9. present: Geographic reference situates the incident on or near campus.
    10. present: Named place supports the location element.
    11. present: A campus building, street, or residence location is named.
    12. present: Place name or MIT facility is specified in the narrative.
    13. present: Location detail appears with street or building identifiers.
    14. present: Geographic reference situates the incident on or near campus.
    15. present: Named place supports the location element.
    16. present: A campus building, street, or residence location is named.
    17. present: Place name or MIT facility is specified in the narrative.
    18. present: Location detail appears with street or building identifiers.
    19. present: Geographic reference situates the incident on or near campus.
    20. present: Named place supports the location element.
    21. present: A campus building, street, or residence location is named.
    22. present: Place name or MIT facility is specified in the narrative.
    23. present: Location detail appears with street or building identifiers.
    24. present: Geographic reference situates the incident on or near campus.
    25. present: Named place supports the location element.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: Guidance coded in MIT Police crime alert.

    The protective action to take. A clear, specific instruction, such as shelter in place, evacuate, avoid the area, or run-hide-fight, drives faster and more correct protective behavior than describing the threat alone.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Instructs recipients on locks, reporting, or other protective steps.
    2. present: Safety tips and call-to-action guidance address the community.
    3. present: Directs readers to notify police or secure property.
    4. present: Protective action language is present for recipients.
    5. present: Guidance element is met by tips or directives.
    6. present: Instructs recipients on locks, reporting, or other protective steps.
    7. present: Safety tips and call-to-action guidance address the community.
    8. present: Directs readers to notify police or secure property.
    9. present: Protective action language is present for recipients.
    10. present: Guidance element is met by tips or directives.
    11. present: Instructs recipients on locks, reporting, or other protective steps.
    12. present: Safety tips and call-to-action guidance address the community.
    13. present: Directs readers to notify police or secure property.
    14. present: Protective action language is present for recipients.
    15. present: Guidance element is met by tips or directives.
    16. present: Instructs recipients on locks, reporting, or other protective steps.
    17. present: Safety tips and call-to-action guidance address the community.
    18. present: Directs readers to notify police or secure property.
    19. present: Protective action language is present for recipients.
    20. present: Guidance element is met by tips or directives.
    21. present: Instructs recipients on locks, reporting, or other protective steps.
    22. present: Safety tips and call-to-action guidance address the community.
    23. present: Directs readers to notify police or secure property.
    24. present: Protective action language is present for recipients.
    25. present: Guidance element is met by tips or directives.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: Time coded in MIT Police crime alert.

    When the message applies. A timestamp, the word now or immediately, or a phrase like until further notice tells the reader whether the danger is current and how quickly to act.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Gives date, clock time, or time window for the incident.
    2. present: Temporal detail appears with date or hour references.
    3. present: When-language anchors the event in calendar time.
    4. present: Time element is present via dated narrative wording.
    5. present: Incident timing is specified in the alert.
    6. present: Gives date, clock time, or time window for the incident.
    7. present: Temporal detail appears with date or hour references.
    8. present: When-language anchors the event in calendar time.
    9. present: Time element is present via dated narrative wording.
    10. present: Incident timing is specified in the alert.
    11. present: Gives date, clock time, or time window for the incident.
    12. present: Temporal detail appears with date or hour references.
    13. present: When-language anchors the event in calendar time.
    14. present: Time element is present via dated narrative wording.
    15. present: Incident timing is specified in the alert.
    16. present: Gives date, clock time, or time window for the incident.
    17. present: Temporal detail appears with date or hour references.
    18. present: When-language anchors the event in calendar time.
    19. present: Time element is present via dated narrative wording.
    20. present: Incident timing is specified in the alert.
    21. present: Gives date, clock time, or time window for the incident.
    22. present: Temporal detail appears with date or hour references.
    23. present: When-language anchors the event in calendar time.
    24. present: Time element is present via dated narrative wording.
    25. present: Incident timing is specified in the alert.
  • Impactpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Present: Impact coded in MIT Police crime alert.

    What the hazard could do to the people in its path. Beyond naming the threat, a complete warning conveys its potential consequences or severity, such as that a tornado can level buildings or that a leak could be explosive, so recipients grasp how much danger they are in. Research on warning message content finds that a concrete impact statement helps people personalize their risk and act sooner.

    See all 25 individual reads
    1. present: Describes stolen property, entry, victimization, or related impact.
    2. present: Impact on persons or property is stated in the narrative.
    3. present: Consequence language such as theft or intrusion is present.
    4. present: Impact element is met by described harm or loss.
    5. present: Victim or property effects are named.
    6. present: Describes stolen property, entry, victimization, or related impact.
    7. present: Impact on persons or property is stated in the narrative.
    8. present: Consequence language such as theft or intrusion is present.
    9. present: Impact element is met by described harm or loss.
    10. present: Victim or property effects are named.
    11. present: Describes stolen property, entry, victimization, or related impact.
    12. present: Impact on persons or property is stated in the narrative.
    13. present: Consequence language such as theft or intrusion is present.
    14. present: Impact element is met by described harm or loss.
    15. present: Victim or property effects are named.
    16. present: Describes stolen property, entry, victimization, or related impact.
    17. present: Impact on persons or property is stated in the narrative.
    18. present: Consequence language such as theft or intrusion is present.
    19. present: Impact element is met by described harm or loss.
    20. present: Victim or property effects are named.
    21. present: Describes stolen property, entry, victimization, or related impact.
    22. present: Impact on persons or property is stated in the narrative.
    23. present: Consequence language such as theft or intrusion is present.
    24. present: Impact element is met by described harm or loss.
    25. present: Victim or property effects are named.

Systematic AI judgments with visible reasoning, not human-validated codings.

About this analysis
Context

Background

MIT Police publishes Clery timely warnings and crime alerts at police.mit.edu/crime-alert with full incident narrative, safety guidance, and issuer attribution. This entry is from residual archive recovery for IRS Phone Scam and Apartment Rental Scam.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official MIT Police crime-alert page preserves complete timely-warning narrative text.
Outcome
MIT Police investigation status as stated in the official crime alert.
Provenance

Sources

Every claim on this page is meant to be checkable. Open the links below (and the Verify this quote control under each confirmed alert) to read the original university, news, or archive page yourself. Hostnames are shown so you can see where you are going; archived copies survive when live pages move or disappear. See also our methodology.

  1. Official
    IRS Phone Scam and Apartment Rental Scam | MIT Police
    police.mit.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "Massachusetts Institute of Technology: IRS Phone Scam and Apartment Rental Scam." Incident of May 3, 2018. Added July 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/mit-irs-phone-scam-and-apartment-rental-scam-2018-05-03/

Download case JSON

Alert text quoted on this page remains the work of the issuing institution; the archive is a secondary source.

Tags
mitmassachusetts-institute-of-technologytimely-warningfraudcrime-alertUnder Investigation
Added July 2026Updated July 2026Via ingestion