Sexual extortion
A U. of I. student reported that he exchanged private messages with an unknown person on WhatsApp. The conversation became sexual in nature, and the unknown person invited the student into a video chat to perform intimate acts. When the video chat ended, the unknown person instructed the student to send $1,000 under threat of sending the video to the student’s social media contacts and the university. The student ceased contact with the offender and contacted police.
Sexual extortion
A U. of I. student reported that he was the victim of extortion. The student exchanged private messages with an unknown person on Instagram before the conversation moved to Snapchat. The unknown individual eventually requested that the student send explicit photos of himself. The student complied, and the unknown person threatened to send the photos to the student's social media followers unless the student paid the unknown offender. After sending $300, the student ceased communication with the offender and contacted police.
University Police determine battery report was inaccurate
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – A woman who initially reported that she was stabbed on Green Street on Tuesday evening later recanted that story, and police determined that there is no ongoing threat to campus. The initial report prompted an Illini-Alert emergency notification that was sent to all students, faculty and staff. University Police promptly issued a follow-up “all clear” notice when their investigation determined that there never was a threat to the safety of campus. Police initially were called around 9 p.m. Tuesday by a Carle Foundation Hospital Security Guard to report a woman with a stab wound in the ER. [...]
Sexual extortion
A U. of I. student reported that an unknown person sent him a message on Instagram and initiated a private conversation, during which the unknown person encouraged the student to send intimate photos of himself. The conversation moved to Snapchat, where the student sent intimate photos. After sending the photos, the unknown person demanded that the student send $800 under threat of publicly posting the photo. The student complied and sent $500 across three transactions. The student ceased contact with the scammer and contacted police.
Task scam
An individual reported receiving two part-time job offers from people purporting to be Korn Ferry and Kelly Services employees via WhatsApp. After expressing his interest, the man was contacted by the "trainer," who explained how to complete the tasks. After completing a job, small amounts of cryptocurrency were deposited into his coin base. Eventually, the man was contacted by another unknown person who was also completing tasks, and this individual said he would need to pay small amounts of money to "unlock" new tasks. The price to unlock tasks started small, but the individual realized he was being scammed when [...]