Campus Alert Archive
Oregon

Scam callers spoof UOPD asking for gift cards

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UOPD issued a security advisory after several reports of scammers mimicking a UOPD phone number and asking for money or gift cards.

Alerts
1
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
University of Oregon
Public R1 · OR
All Oregon cases →
UO Alert
Official alert policy
Read when and how Oregon says it will use UO 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 verbatim1359 chars
Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. The University of Oregon Police Department has received several reports recently of people being called by a scammer using a UOPD phone number. The caller says that they are from UOPD and asks for money or a gift card to pay a fine or settle a warrant out for the person’s arrest. UOPD’s phone number has been mimicked to show up on caller ID, making the story seem legitimate. This is a scam that occurs across the country. A law enforcement agency will not ask you for this type of information or request gift cards for payment. If you receive a call and recognize that it is a scam, hang up and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you are a victim of this or any other scam, call UOPD at 541-346-2919. Remember: • If someone asks you for cash, gift cards, credit card numbers, security logins, or other personal information, REFUSE. Call the police or find another way to contact a legitimate business to follow up. Do not use a callback number they give you. • Don’t give out computer or phone logins, personal, or financial information to someone who calls you. If you are not sure about the call, hang up and find the real agency phone number and call yourself. • Beware high-pressure techniques. Don’t give information or make a decision on the spot. •If it sounds quirky or weird, it probably is.
Verify this quote
UO Security Advisory Eugene: Police don't call asking for money or gift cardssafety.uoregon.edufind archived copies
Dual independent HTML fetch 2026-08-24. Official curly apostrophes in person's, UOPD's, FBI's, and Don't preserved. Second blind sha256 fa4385ab371560aa325afa553c8ff44a495ef2ddbe31b6945e2607c9a2f54153.
Thread N/A (web posting, not X).
Distinct incident from 2025-09-01-university-of-oregon-portland-campus-power-outage: adjacent calendar date, different campus and type.
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.

Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. The University of Oregon Police Department has received several reports recently of people being called by a scammer using a UOPD phone number. The caller says that they are from UOPD and asks for money or a gift card to pay a fine or settle a warrant out for the person’s arrest. UOPD’s phone number has been mimicked to show up on caller ID, making the story seem legitimate. This is a scam that occurs across the country. A law enforcement agency will not ask you for this type of information or request gift cards for payment. If you receive a call and recognize that it is a scam, hang up and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you are a victim of this or any other scam, call UOPD at 541-346-2919. Remember: • If someone asks you for cash, gift cards, credit card numbers, security logins, or other personal information, REFUSE. Call the police or find another way to contact a legitimate business to follow up. Do not use a callback number they give you. • Don’t give out computer or phone logins, personal, or financial information to someone who calls you. If you are not sure about the call, hang up and find the real agency phone number and call yourself. • Beware high-pressure techniques. Don’t give information or make a decision on the spot. •If it sounds quirky or weird, it probably is.

  • Sourcepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    University of Oregon Police Department names the sender. Majority 25/25.

    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: I read the University of Oregon Police Department as sender in this first burst (the University of Or, pass 1).
    2. present: The University of Oregon Police Department as sender is present on my read (the University of Or, pass 2).
    3. present: I score this element from the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 3).
    4. present: The deciding words are the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 4).
    5. present: Verdict follows the University of Oregon Police Department as sender in the body (the University of Or, pass 5).
    6. present: I mark this from the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 6).
    7. present: The University of Oregon Police Department as sender satisfies the rubric here (the University of Or, pass 7).
    8. present: My pass treats the University of Oregon Police Department as sender as the cue (the University of Or, pass 8).
    9. present: I find the University of Oregon Police Department as sender and code accordingly (the University of Or, pass 9).
    10. present: Element turns on the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 10).
    11. present: I count this because of the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 11).
    12. present: The text gives the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 12).
    13. present: I rely on the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 13).
    14. present: Present or absent per the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 14).
    15. present: I do not need more than the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 15).
    16. present: Coding follows the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 16).
    17. present: I note the University of Oregon Police Department as sender as the tell (the University of Or, pass 17).
    18. present: This pass keys off the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 18).
    19. present: I take the University of Oregon Police Department as sender as sufficient (the University of Or, pass 19).
    20. present: The body states the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 20).
    21. present: I judge from the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 21).
    22. present: The University of Oregon Police Department as sender is the evidence I use (the University of Or, pass 22).
    23. present: I apply the rubric to the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 23).
    24. present: My reason is the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 24).
    25. present: I close on the University of Oregon Police Department as sender (the University of Or, pass 25).
  • Hazardpresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Gift-card spoof scam is a specific hazard. Majority 25/25.

    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: I read a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards in this first burst (a scammer mimicking , pass 1).
    2. present: A scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards is present on my read (a scammer mimicking , pass 2).
    3. present: I score this element from a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 3).
    4. present: The deciding words are a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 4).
    5. present: Verdict follows a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards in the body (a scammer mimicking , pass 5).
    6. present: I mark this from a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 6).
    7. present: A scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards satisfies the rubric here (a scammer mimicking , pass 7).
    8. present: My pass treats a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards as the cue (a scammer mimicking , pass 8).
    9. present: I find a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards and code accordingly (a scammer mimicking , pass 9).
    10. present: Element turns on a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 10).
    11. present: I count this because of a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 11).
    12. present: The text gives a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 12).
    13. present: I rely on a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 13).
    14. present: Present or absent per a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 14).
    15. present: I do not need more than a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 15).
    16. present: Coding follows a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 16).
    17. present: I note a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards as the tell (a scammer mimicking , pass 17).
    18. present: This pass keys off a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 18).
    19. present: I take a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards as sufficient (a scammer mimicking , pass 19).
    20. present: The body states a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 20).
    21. present: I judge from a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 21).
    22. present: A scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards is the evidence I use (a scammer mimicking , pass 22).
    23. present: I apply the rubric to a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 23).
    24. present: My reason is a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 24).
    25. present: I close on a scammer mimicking a UOPD number for gift cards (a scammer mimicking , pass 25).
  • Locationabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    No building or campus place is named. Majority 0/25.

    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. absent: I read no building, street, or campus place is named in this first burst (no building, street,, pass 1).
    2. absent: No building, street, or campus place is named is present on my read (no building, street,, pass 2).
    3. absent: I score this element from no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 3).
    4. absent: The deciding words are no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 4).
    5. absent: Verdict follows no building, street, or campus place is named in the body (no building, street,, pass 5).
    6. absent: I mark this from no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 6).
    7. absent: No building, street, or campus place is named satisfies the rubric here (no building, street,, pass 7).
    8. absent: My pass treats no building, street, or campus place is named as the cue (no building, street,, pass 8).
    9. absent: I find no building, street, or campus place is named and code accordingly (no building, street,, pass 9).
    10. absent: Element turns on no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 10).
    11. absent: I count this because of no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 11).
    12. absent: The text gives no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 12).
    13. absent: I rely on no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 13).
    14. absent: Present or absent per no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 14).
    15. absent: I do not need more than no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 15).
    16. absent: Coding follows no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 16).
    17. absent: I note no building, street, or campus place is named as the tell (no building, street,, pass 17).
    18. absent: This pass keys off no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 18).
    19. absent: I take no building, street, or campus place is named as sufficient (no building, street,, pass 19).
    20. absent: The body states no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 20).
    21. absent: I judge from no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 21).
    22. absent: No building, street, or campus place is named is the evidence I use (no building, street,, pass 22).
    23. absent: I apply the rubric to no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 23).
    24. absent: My reason is no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 24).
    25. absent: I close on no building, street, or campus place is named (no building, street,, pass 25).
  • Guidancepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Hang up, refuse, and call UOPD are instructions. Majority 25/25.

    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: I read hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD in this first burst (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 1).
    2. present: Hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD is present on my read (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 2).
    3. present: I score this element from hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 3).
    4. present: The deciding words are hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 4).
    5. present: Verdict follows hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD in the body (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 5).
    6. present: I mark this from hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 6).
    7. present: Hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD satisfies the rubric here (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 7).
    8. present: My pass treats hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD as the cue (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 8).
    9. present: I find hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD and code accordingly (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 9).
    10. present: Element turns on hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 10).
    11. present: I count this because of hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 11).
    12. present: The text gives hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 12).
    13. present: I rely on hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 13).
    14. present: Present or absent per hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 14).
    15. present: I do not need more than hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 15).
    16. present: Coding follows hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 16).
    17. present: I note hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD as the tell (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 17).
    18. present: This pass keys off hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 18).
    19. present: I take hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD as sufficient (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 19).
    20. present: The body states hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 20).
    21. present: I judge from hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 21).
    22. present: Hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD is the evidence I use (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 22).
    23. present: I apply the rubric to hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 23).
    24. present: My reason is hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 24).
    25. present: I close on hang up, refuse, report to the FBI, and call UOPD (hang up, refuse, rep, pass 25).
  • Timepresent25/25

    Final assessment

    Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. is a date and clock. Majority 25/25.

    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: I read Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. in this first burst (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 1).
    2. present: Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. is present on my read (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 2).
    3. present: I score this element from Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 3).
    4. present: The deciding words are Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 4).
    5. present: Verdict follows Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. in the body (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 5).
    6. present: I mark this from Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 6).
    7. present: Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. satisfies the rubric here (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 7).
    8. present: My pass treats Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. as the cue (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 8).
    9. present: I find Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. and code accordingly (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 9).
    10. present: Element turns on Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 10).
    11. present: I count this because of Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 11).
    12. present: The text gives Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 12).
    13. present: I rely on Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 13).
    14. present: Present or absent per Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 14).
    15. present: I do not need more than Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 15).
    16. present: Coding follows Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 16).
    17. present: I note Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. as the tell (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 17).
    18. present: This pass keys off Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 18).
    19. present: I take Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. as sufficient (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 19).
    20. present: The body states Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 20).
    21. present: I judge from Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 21).
    22. present: Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. is the evidence I use (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 22).
    23. present: I apply the rubric to Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 23).
    24. present: My reason is Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 24).
    25. present: I close on Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a.m. (Sept. 2, 2025 9:45 a, pass 25).
  • Impactabsent0/25

    Final assessment

    No explicit harm clause. Majority 0/25.

    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. absent: I read no injury or severity clause in the first burst in this first burst (no injury or severit, pass 1).
    2. absent: No injury or severity clause in the first burst is present on my read (no injury or severit, pass 2).
    3. absent: I score this element from no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 3).
    4. absent: The deciding words are no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 4).
    5. absent: Verdict follows no injury or severity clause in the first burst in the body (no injury or severit, pass 5).
    6. absent: I mark this from no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 6).
    7. absent: No injury or severity clause in the first burst satisfies the rubric here (no injury or severit, pass 7).
    8. absent: My pass treats no injury or severity clause in the first burst as the cue (no injury or severit, pass 8).
    9. absent: I find no injury or severity clause in the first burst and code accordingly (no injury or severit, pass 9).
    10. absent: Element turns on no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 10).
    11. absent: I count this because of no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 11).
    12. absent: The text gives no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 12).
    13. absent: I rely on no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 13).
    14. absent: Present or absent per no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 14).
    15. absent: I do not need more than no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 15).
    16. absent: Coding follows no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 16).
    17. absent: I note no injury or severity clause in the first burst as the tell (no injury or severit, pass 17).
    18. absent: This pass keys off no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 18).
    19. absent: I take no injury or severity clause in the first burst as sufficient (no injury or severit, pass 19).
    20. absent: The body states no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 20).
    21. absent: I judge from no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 21).
    22. absent: No injury or severity clause in the first burst is the evidence I use (no injury or severit, pass 22).
    23. absent: I apply the rubric to no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 23).
    24. absent: My reason is no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 24).
    25. absent: I close on no injury or severity clause in the first burst (no injury or severit, pass 25).

Coded by SuperGrok Heavy 4.5

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

About this analysis
Context

Background

University of Oregon posts UO Security Advisories on safety.uoregon.edu/alerts.
Analysis

Key Findings

Scammers spoofing a UOPD number asking for gift cards; refuse and report.
Outcome
Hang-up / refuse / FBI IC3 / UOPD 541-346-2919 instructions. Official curly apostrophes preserved.
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
    UO Security Advisory Eugene: Police don't call asking for money or gift cards
    safety.uoregon.edu
    archived copy
Cite this case

Campus Alert Archive. "University of Oregon: Scam callers spoof UOPD asking for gift cards." Incident of September 2, 2025. Added August 2026. https://campusalertarchive.com/case/university-of-oregon-uopd-gift-card-scam-2025-09-02/

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

Tags
public-r1oregonuo-alertadvisoryother
Added August 2026Updated August 2026Via ingestion