UPD warns students of credit scam

Jason Mann

Jason Mann

Students notified the University Police Department Feb. 26 of on-campus solicitation.

Two men employed by College Development Inc., a third-party group that sells information to banks and credit card companies, were distributing fliers both in and outside of The Union as well as underneath doors to individual rooms in residence halls all across campus. SDSU has a no tolerance solicitation policy on campus, said UPD Chief Tim Heaton

The fliers distributed on Monday offered either a free 6-inch combo meal at the Subway in Village Square or a free medium single-topping pizza at Papa John’s. In order to receive the free meal at Subway, students had to fill out an application for the Chase Visa with Flex Rewards credit card, and at Papa John’s, the application was for the Citi mtvU Card. The form for the Chase card requires the applicant’s social security number and the name of the bank his or her checking or savings account is with.

Kelli Root, a sophomore family and consumer sciences major, ate dinner at Papa John’s Monday night, but didn’t partake in the student activity.

“What bothered me was this kid was giving (the CDI employee) his social security number out loud. … I could have easily written it down,” Root said.

Michael Kervin, director of Residential Life, asks that students contact the front desk of their residence hall if they see anyone suspicious-looking in their building so that UPD, who has been notified about the solicitors, can be alerted and the violators may be caught.

“Don’t buy anything – you will get taken,” Kervin said.