A 2025 Pew Research Center poll estimated 73% of Americans aged 18-29 have been victimized by at least one internet scam.
The Indiana University Police Department and Bloomington Police Department have identified two main scams frequently reported in recent months. Below is a guide to identifying, combatting and avoiding these common scams:
Ticket scams
False ticket sales have become common across campus, especially with recent success by the Indiana football and men’s basketball teams. In an interview, IUPD Public Information Officer Hannah Cornett said most ticket scams targeting students occur through social media platforms and are difficult for law enforcement to investigate, underscoring the importance of prevention and education.
Cornett said fraudulent ticket sales are most often reported after transactions conducted through platforms such as Facebook, GroupMe and Snapchat, rather than verified ticket vendors. In these cases, individuals advertise tickets for major sporting events, accept payment and disappear without delivering valid tickets.
“These crimes are happening online,” Cornett said. “Investigating them often leads to a dead end because the accounts are fake, automated or operated by individuals outside law enforcement’s reach.”
Because recovery of lost money is rarely possible, Cornett said, IUPD focuses on education efforts aimed at preventing students from becoming victims. She said the department often shares fraud prevention tips on social media and on its website.
She said students should slow down and trust their instincts during purchases, particularly when ticket prices are significantly lower than market value for high-demand events, such as championship games.
“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” she said. “Trust your gut.”
She also advised students to avoid buying from non-verified vendors and stay away from social media apps for ticket purchases.
Federal agent scams
In addition to ticket scams, IUPD and Bloomington police have reported impersonation scams where callers pose as law enforcement or federal officials and demand immediate payment under threat of arrest. Cornett said international students are disproportionately targeted in these schemes.
Public backlash toward federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has risen in Bloomington in recent months. After ICE agents shot and killed two people in Minneapolis in separate incidents, more than 400 people gathered in Bloomington to protest the agency.
No ICE arrests have been reported in Bloomington this year, but a May 22, 2025, press release from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security detailed more than 20 immigration-related arrests in Bloomington and Evansville between April and May. ICE arrested a Mexican citizen Apr. 29 at the Charlotte Zietlow Justice Center, the IDS reported.
“These scams prey on fear and unfamiliarity with the U.S. legal system,” Cornett said.
Victims in such cases have lost up to thousands of dollars, according to IUPD and BPD reports.
Cornett said IUPD conducts educational outreach with international student groups at the beginning of each semester to raise awareness of common scams.
The Federal Trade Commission advises on its website that scammers may impersonate agents by offering an employee identification number or other form of documentation that is easily fabricated.
“Government agencies will never call, email, text, or message you on social media to ask for money or personal information. Only a scammer will do that,” the website states.
The FTC advises against using wire transfers like Western Union or MoneyGram and payment apps like Venmo or Cash App in transactions with unknown parties, as they’re difficult to track and retrace.
