People selling magazines on campus might be trying to scam students, warned a UAPD campus fraud alert.
UAPD released the alert yesterday after a student who paid $40 for a magazine subscription from an individual on the UA mall on Nov. 18, was unable to verify her subscription.
The student received pamphlets and a brochure from the individual. When the student went home, she tried to log on to a website to verify the subscription, but was unable to find one.
"We don't know if the actual solicitor is legitimate or not," said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman. "We don't know if there is an actual crime or not."
There has only been one report so far, but UAPD is adamant about stopping a situation before it starts.
Mejia advises students to ask vendors to verify business credentials, avoid giving personal identification information and to never give strangers money.
"We just want the people to know not to let their guard down," Mejia said. "To not be a victim of a fraudulent scheme not attached to any legitimate business."
Many students feel the alert is aimed at naive students and not thegeneral student body.
"It doesn't bother me," said Jessica Rose, an art history freshman. "(People need) to be smarter and not be a dumbass."
Some believe this type of problem is part of the campus learning process.
"I think its a little na•ve, but we're all supposed to be friends here," said Chris Rice, an undeclared freshman. "I can't hold it against people who buy into it."
Police are asking students to call them at 621-UAPD with any information or to report any similar incident.