Victoria Silman | Assistant News Editor
Featured Image: Students’ personal information could be at risk. | Fatema Ali
A job recruitment scam has been making waves throughout Ontario universities, often in the form of a clipboard left within classrooms. These forms request personal student information, and, according to many reports, mimic something that a faculty member may distribute.
The clipboard scams have been reportedly found on campus at four universities, including Western, University of Waterloo, Ryerson, and U of T.
The Western Gazette had previously reported the clipboards as asking for identifying information, such as: name, phone number, address, and faculty. The clipboards claim to offer opportunities for students to earn anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 during the summer of 2019, but provide little identifying information of the company involved.
According to the Better Business Bureau, these scams often use legitimate business names, impersonating them to delude unsuspecting victims.
It is unclear what the information is being used for, however campus police have been investigating the matter at the universities involved to ensure the safety of their students.
Though York has yet to experience the scam, a statement was released on October 2 urging students to be wary of anything that may compromise their information.
The statement, written by Executive Director of Community Safety, Samina Sami, and Vice-Provost Students, Lucy Fromowitz, states: “Several Ontario Universities have identified this pattern: someone leaves a clipboard in a classroom or open area and encourages students to enter their personal information to receive information on a job.”
Furthermore, the clipboards are passed around in classrooms during class time, deceiving students by implying “it has something to do with the class, or is approved by the professor.”
On the decision to release a statement to the York community, Advisor and Deputy Spokesperson, Janice Walls, explains: “I can confirm that there have been no reports of this job recruitment scheme operating at York, either before or after the October 2 information was circulated to students. We decided to inform students as a precaution after hearing that other institutions had reported this occurring on their campuses.”
In the statement, the Career Centre, and Community Safety request students to be wary of divulging their personal information. If students are looking for work, the statement recommends using the Career Centre’s services, as job postings are frequently made available.
If these incidents are witnessed, “students can contact the Career Centre at Keele if they have any concerns or see this type of recruitment scheme on our campuses,” Walls states.
Furthermore, students can also contact departments affiliated with their programs of study, including: the Career and Skills Development Centre, Glendon campus; Career Development Services, Schulich School of Business; Career Services, Faculty of Environmental Studies; and the Lassonde Co-op/Internship, Lassonde School of Engineering.
Western media spokespersons could not be reached for comment.
Ryerson media spokespersons declined a request for comment.
