Campus Alert Archive
NYU

Mobile payment scam near Astor Place

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Under Investigation

NYU Campus Safety issued a Safety Advisory on January 16, 2025 about a mobile payment / charity-donation scam near Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street, following up on the January 11 Clery notice.

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Killed
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Institution
New York University
Private R1 · NY
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~60,000 studentsNYU Alert / Clery Campus Notice
Official alert policy
Read when and how NYU says it will use NYU 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 verbatim2242 chars
Safety Advisory - January 16, 2025 Date: January 16, 2025 To: The NYU Community From: NYU Department of Campus Safety Re: Safety Advisory - Mobile Payment App/Charity Donation Scam/Robbery Following up on the Clery Campus Notice from January 11, 2025, the NYU Department of Campus Safety has received additional reports of an ongoing mobile pay app/charity donation scam near NYU buildings in Manhattan—primarily near and around Broadway, between Astor Place and West 4th Street. At least one of these encounters resulted in a student being robbed. These reports have the following in common: Two individuals conducting the scam approach the victim asking for donations—sometimes for a charity, or to help with an ill family member. While standing with the two individuals, some victims reported a third individual may approach from behind, creating a triangular barrier to prevent the victim from leaving. There have been occasions where the individuals offer bags of candy in exchange for donations. If the victim declines to donate cash, the individuals may threaten the victim to give money electronically through a mobile pay app or by withdrawing cash from an ATM. There have been reports of individuals requesting to break a large bill, or make change, that is later determined to be counterfeit. Given this pattern of incidents, we recommend paying additional attention to your surroundings as you navigate campus and nearby areas. We also suggest you: Politely decline if asked to donate money on the street and continue walking. You can always make a donation later at your convenience.  Enable the two-factor and/or biometric authentication for mobile payment apps on your phone. Disable the automatic payment/receipt function for your mobile payment apps. Decouple mobile payment apps from smart watches. Request assistance from others or seek out an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted like the University’s green light buildings if you feel that you are in danger. Our team is here to support you. If you experience an incident like this or have any information that could aid in the review, please contact the NYPD at 911 and NYU Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222 or via text through the Safe NYU app.
Verify this quote
Safety Advisory - January 16, 2025t.e2ma.netfind archived copies
seq 1 email. Independent dual-curl this session HTML 28884 bytes sha256 3978ddd2cc96bc72 both passes. sha256 9cc6a29bae05b6493dda15bd101bb7951bf847d80d2d58c389e9cf26788fffa5. NBSPs preserved where present. Suspect photographs not transcribed.
Product boundary: NYU Clery Campus Notice or Safety Advisory through safety tips. Subscribe bar, social-icon alts, spacer dots, emblem alt, and Campus Safety/Transportation/FAQ nav omitted.
Distinct product from 2025-01-11-nyu-astor-place-robbery: January 16 Safety Advisory about an ongoing scam pattern vs January 11 Clery robbery at Raising Cane's, 20 Astor Place. The advisory follows up on that notice and is not the same first-burst.
Message elements

How the first alert is built

To check this alert, SuperGrok Heavy 4.5 (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.

Safety Advisory - January 16, 2025 Date: January 16, 2025 To: The NYU Community From: NYU Department of Campus Safety Re: Safety Advisory - Mobile Payment App/Charity Donation Scam/Robbery Following up on the Clery Campus Notice from January 11, 2025, the NYU Department of Campus Safety has received additional reports of an ongoing mobile pay app/charity donation scam near NYU buildings in Manhattan—primarily near and around Broadway, between Astor Place and West 4th Street. At least one of these encounters resulted in a student being robbed. These reports have the following in common: Two individuals conducting the scam approach the victim asking for donations—sometimes for a charity, or to help with an ill family member. While standing with the two individuals, some victims reported a third individual may approach from behind, creating a triangular barrier to prevent the victim from leaving. There have been occasions where the individuals offer bags of candy in exchange for donations. If the victim declines to donate cash, the individuals may threaten the victim to give money electronically through a mobile pay app or by withdrawing cash from an ATM. There have been reports of individuals requesting to break a large bill, or make change, that is later determined to be counterfeit. Given this pattern of incidents, we recommend paying additional attention to your surroundings as you navigate campus and nearby areas. We also suggest you: Politely decline if asked to donate money on the street and continue walking. You can always make a donation later at your convenience.  Enable the two-factor and/or biometric authentication for mobile payment apps on your phone. Disable the automatic payment/receipt function for your mobile payment apps. Decouple mobile payment apps from smart watches. Request assistance from others or seek out an open NYU facility that has Campus Safety Officers posted like the University’s green light buildings if you feel that you are in danger. Our team is here to support you. If you experience an incident like this or have any information that could aid in the review, please contact the NYPD at 911 and NYU Campus Safety at (212) 998-2222 or via text through the Safe NYU app.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find S present: The advisory is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety, a named issuing authority.

    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: The advisory is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety, a named issuing authority.
    2. present: The From line names NYU Department of Campus Safety as the sender of this Safety Advisory to the NYU Community.
    3. present: The memo is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to The NYU Community, identifying the sender.
    4. present: The memo is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community, which identifies the sender.
    5. present: The memo is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community.
    6. present: The memo line "From: NYU Department of Campus Safety" names the issuing unit, and the body repeats that office.
    7. present: The advisory is signed From NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community.
    8. present: The advisory is addressed from NYU Department of Campus Safety to The NYU Community, which identifies the issuer.
    9. present: The line "From: NYU Department of Campus Safety" names the sending authority.
    10. present: The advisory is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community.
    11. present: The "From" line names "NYU Department of Campus Safety" as the sender to the NYU community.
    12. present: The From line NYU Department of Campus Safety identifies the issuing office.
    13. present: The memo is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community, a named issuing office.
    14. present: The line "From: NYU Department of Campus Safety" names the sender of the Safety Advisory.
    15. present: The line "From: NYU Department of Campus Safety" names the issuing authority.
    16. present: The memo is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community.
    17. present: The memo is from the "NYU Department of Campus Safety" and cites the Safe NYU app.
    18. present: The advisory is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety, which names the issuing authority.
    19. present: The memo is From NYU Department of Campus Safety, which names the issuing campus authority.
    20. present: The memo is addressed From NYU Department of Campus Safety to The NYU Community, which identifies the sender.
    21. present: The advisory is signed "From: NYU Department of Campus Safety", naming the issuing office.
    22. present: The line "From: NYU Department of Campus Safety" names the office sending the advisory.
    23. present: The memo is from the NYU Department of Campus Safety to the NYU Community, naming the issuing authority.
    24. present: The memo is addressed from the "NYU Department of Campus Safety" to the NYU Community, naming the sender.
    25. present: The memo is from the "NYU Department of Campus Safety", which names the sender.
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find H present: The subject line and body name an ongoing mobile pay app and charity donation scam, plus robbery.

    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: The subject line and body name an ongoing mobile pay app and charity donation scam, plus robbery.
    2. present: The subject names a mobile payment app charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    3. present: The subject names a Mobile Payment App/Charity Donation Scam/Robbery, a specific criminal threat.
    4. present: The subject names a mobile payment app and charity donation scam plus robbery as the specific threats.
    5. present: The subject names a mobile payment charity donation scam and robbery, and the body describes those crimes.
    6. present: It specifies an ongoing mobile pay app and charity donation scam plus robbery, a named threat rather than a vague situation.
    7. present: It names a mobile payment or charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    8. present: The subject names a Mobile Payment App/Charity Donation Scam/Robbery, a specific ongoing threat.
    9. present: The subject names a mobile payment charity scam and robbery, which are specific threats.
    10. present: The subject names a mobile payment charity donation scam and robbery as the specific threats.
    11. present: The subject names an ongoing mobile pay app or charity donation scam and robbery.
    12. present: It names an ongoing mobile pay app and charity donation scam and at least one robbery.
    13. present: The subject names a mobile payment app charity donation scam and robbery, and the body details that crime pattern.
    14. present: It specifies a mobile pay charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    15. present: It specifies a mobile payment app charity donation scam and robbery.
    16. present: The subject identifies a mobile pay app charity donation scam and robbery.
    17. present: It names a mobile payment charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    18. present: It specifies a mobile pay or charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    19. present: The subject line and body name an ongoing mobile pay app charity donation scam and a robbery.
    20. present: The subject line names a mobile pay charity donation scam and robbery, and the body describes that street scam pattern.
    21. present: It specifies a mobile pay charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    22. present: The subject names a mobile payment charity donation scam and robbery as the threats.
    23. present: The subject names a mobile payment app and charity donation scam plus robbery as the specific threats.
    24. present: It specifies an ongoing mobile pay app and charity donation scam, plus robbery of at least one student.
    25. present: It specifies an ongoing mobile pay charity donation scam and robbery.
  • Locationpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find L present: Reports are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, primarily Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street, and campus nearby.

    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: Reports are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, primarily Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street, and campus nearby.
    2. present: Incidents are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    3. present: It locates the pattern near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    4. present: It locates the pattern near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    5. present: Incidents are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    6. present: The pattern is placed near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    7. present: Incidents are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    8. present: It locates the scam near NYU buildings in Manhattan, primarily around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    9. present: It locates the pattern near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    10. present: It locates the scam near NYU buildings in Manhattan, around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    11. present: It locates reports near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    12. present: Reports are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    13. present: It locates the scam near NYU buildings around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street in Manhattan.
    14. present: It locates the activity near NYU buildings in Manhattan, around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    15. present: Incidents are near NYU buildings in Manhattan around Broadway, between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    16. present: It locates the pattern near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    17. present: It locates the pattern near NYU buildings in Manhattan around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    18. present: Activity is near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    19. present: It locates the scam near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    20. present: Incidents are sited near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street, and on campus.
    21. present: It places the pattern near NYU buildings in Manhattan, around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    22. present: Incidents are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    23. present: It places the scam near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
    24. present: Activity is near NYU buildings in Manhattan, mainly Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street, and campus.
    25. present: Incidents are near NYU buildings in Manhattan, around Broadway between Astor Place and West 4th Street.
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find G present: It tells readers to decline street donations, harden mobile payment apps, and seek NYU green light buildings if in danger.

    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: It tells readers to decline street donations, harden mobile payment apps, and seek NYU green light buildings if in danger.
    2. present: It tells people to decline street donations and keep walking, lock down mobile pay apps, seek a green light building if in danger, and call 911.
    3. present: It tells people to decline street donations and keep walking, harden mobile pay apps, and seek a green light building if in danger.
    4. present: Readers are told to decline street donations and keep walking, harden mobile pay apps, and seek green light buildings if in danger.
    5. present: Readers are told to decline street donations and keep walking, enable app authentication, and seek a green light building if in danger.
    6. present: It tells readers to decline street donations and keep walking, lock down payment apps, and seek a green light building if in danger.
    7. present: It instructs people to decline street donations, keep walking, harden payment apps, and seek help if in danger.
    8. present: It tells people to politely decline street donation asks and keep walking, lock down mobile pay apps, and go to a green light NYU building if they feel in danger.
    9. present: It instructs people to decline street donations, keep walking, harden payment apps, and call 911 or Campus Safety.
    10. present: It instructs people to decline street donations, keep walking, lock down payment apps, and seek a staffed NYU facility if in danger.
    11. present: It tells recipients to decline street donations, keep walking, lock down payment apps, and seek Campus Safety if in danger.
    12. present: It instructs people to decline street donations and keep walking, use green light buildings if in danger, and contact 911.
    13. present: It tells people to decline street donations and keep walking, lock down mobile pay apps, seek Campus Safety, and call 911.
    14. present: It tells people to decline street donations, lock down payment apps, seek green light buildings if in danger, and call 911.
    15. present: It tells people to decline street donations, keep walking, and seek NYU green light buildings if in danger.
    16. present: It instructs people to decline street donations and keep walking, lock down mobile payment apps, and seek a green light building if in danger.
    17. present: It tells people to decline street donations, keep walking, secure payment apps, and seek help if in danger.
    18. present: Recipients are told to decline street donations, keep walking, and seek Campus Safety if in danger.
    19. present: It tells readers to decline street donations and keep walking, lock down payment apps, seek NYU green light buildings, and call 911.
    20. present: Readers are told to decline street donations and keep walking, lock down mobile pay apps, and seek a staffed NYU facility if in danger.
    21. present: It tells people to decline street donations, keep walking, harden payment apps, seek a green light building, and call 911.
    22. present: It tells readers to decline street donations, keep walking, secure payment apps, and seek a staffed NYU facility if in danger.
    23. present: Readers are told to decline street donation asks and keep walking, lock down mobile pay apps, and seek a green light building if in danger.
    24. present: It tells people to decline street donations and keep walking, secure payment apps, and seek green light buildings if in danger.
    25. present: It instructs people to decline street donations, keep walking, lock down payment apps, and seek Campus Safety if in danger.
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    All 25 reads find T present: The memo is dated January 16, 2025, cites a January 11 notice, and calls the scam "ongoing."

    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: The memo is dated January 16, 2025, cites a January 11 notice, and calls the scam "ongoing."
    2. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, follows a January 11 notice, and describes the scam as ongoing.
    3. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, cites January 11, 2025, and calls the scam ongoing.
    4. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, cites a January 11 notice, and calls the scam ongoing.
    5. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, and it calls the scam ongoing.
    6. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, cites January 11, 2025, and calls the scam "ongoing."
    7. present: The date January 16, 2025 appears, and the scam is described as ongoing.
    8. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as ongoing after a January 11 notice.
    9. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and calls the scam "ongoing," also citing January 11.
    10. present: The notice is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as ongoing.
    11. present: It is dated January 16, 2025, cites January 11, 2025, and calls the scam "ongoing."
    12. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as ongoing.
    13. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, cites January 11, 2025, and calls the scam ongoing.
    14. present: The date January 16, 2025 appears, and the scam is described as "ongoing."
    15. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as "ongoing".
    16. present: It is dated January 16, 2025, follows a January 11 notice, and calls the scam ongoing.
    17. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes an ongoing pattern after a January 11 notice.
    18. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as ongoing.
    19. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, cites January 11, 2025, and calls the scam ongoing.
    20. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025, follows a January 11 notice, and calls the scam "ongoing".
    21. present: The date January 16, 2025 appears, and the scam is described as "ongoing".
    22. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as ongoing.
    23. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and calls the scam ongoing after the January 11 notice.
    24. present: The advisory is dated January 16, 2025 and describes the scam as "ongoing."
    25. present: The date January 16, 2025 appears, and the pattern is described as "ongoing".
  • Impactabsent8/25

    Final assessment

    A 17 to 8 majority finds I absent: Robbery and verbal threats describe the crime pattern itself, with no injury, death, or severity line about what it could do to people. 8 reads mark it present.

    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: It states a student was robbed and that suspects may threaten victims to force app payments or ATM withdrawals.
    2. absent: Robbery and verbal threats describe the crime pattern itself, with no injury, death, or severity line about what it could do to people.
    3. present: It says at least one encounter resulted in a student being robbed and treats the pattern as putting people in danger.
    4. present: It describes a triangular barrier trapping victims, threats to force payment, and at least one completed robbery, plus danger language.
    5. absent: Being robbed and threatened for money restates the offense, without saying anyone was hurt or how severe the harm is.
    6. present: Suspects "may threaten the victim," a third person may block escape, and readers are told to get help if "in danger."
    7. absent: Robbery and threats to take money describe the crime method, not injury, lethality, or other stated harm.
    8. absent: A student being robbed and threats to obtain money restate the crime, without injury, lethality, or other stated consequences.
    9. absent: Being robbed is the crime named, not a statement of injury, death risk, or other severity of harm.
    10. absent: Robbery is named as the crime, but the text does not state injury, danger, or other consequences of the scam.
    11. present: It describes threats, a triangular barrier trapping victims, robbery, and seeking help if you feel "in danger."
    12. absent: Being robbed and threatened for money restates the crime pattern without saying it could injure anyone or how severe it is.
    13. absent: It reports a robbery and street threats but never says the scam could injure anyone or how serious the harm is.
    14. absent: Robbery and threats to obtain money describe the crime itself, without stating injury, danger, or other consequences.
    15. absent: Being robbed is the hazard itself, and the text does not state injury, death, or other severity for recipients.
    16. absent: Being robbed or threatened is the crime pattern itself, with no injury, death, or other consequence stated.
    17. absent: Scam and robbery methods are described, but the text does not state injury, death, or other severity.
    18. absent: Robbery is named as the hazard, but the text does not state injuries, danger, or other consequences.
    19. present: It describes threats, a triangular barrier that traps victims, a completed robbery, and help if you feel you are in danger.
    20. absent: Robbery and verbal threats are part of the named crime pattern, without a statement of what the hazard could do or how serious it is.
    21. present: It states encounters have led to robbery, threats, and trapping victims, which are consequences of the scam.
    22. absent: A student being robbed restates the crime type without saying the scam is dangerous or may cause injury.
    23. absent: Being robbed or threatened for money restates the named crimes, with no injury, severity, or other consequence spelled out.
    24. absent: Robbery is the named crime, not a stated harm or severity such as injury, death, or danger to life.
    25. present: It says accomplices may trap victims and "threaten" them, and at least one student was robbed.

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

NYU posts Clery Campus Notices and Safety Advisories on its safety-alerts listing. Official product: the Emma webview.
Analysis

Key Findings

Official Emma product recovered from the NYU listing: Safety Advisory - January 16, 2025.
Outcome
Additional reports of an ongoing scam; at least one encounter resulted in a robbery. Advisory to the community.
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
    Safety Advisory - January 16, 2025
    t.e2ma.net
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "New York University: Mobile payment scam near Astor Place." Incident of January 16, 2025. Added September 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/nyu-astor-place-robbery-2025-01-16/

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

Tags
private-r1new-yorknyucleryfraudUnder Investigation
Added September 2026Updated September 2026Via ingestion