In Madison’s hot property market, rental scams are nothing new. But there’s been an increasingly common twist that’s catching some renters off-guard. QR (for Quick Response) codes – the blocks of black and white squares that our cell phones can easily translate into web links – are more frequently being used legitimately by property companies and landlords. But some bad actors are using similar QR codes to connect unsuspecting renters to their own fraudulent sites. Often, these false sites mimic the real ones. Their goal: Collect some form of payment, like a deposit or rental fee, as quickly as possible. If the scam goes undetected, the fraudster can continue using the provided financial information for additional unauthorized transactions.
Department News
Arrests at Board of Regents Meeting
12/10/24 Update: After reviewing each arrest, it’s been determined that all 19 individuals will each receive a citation for violating UWS 18.11(4)(a) Assembly – Block/Obstruct/Occupy Prohibited Signs/Noise for intentionally creating a volume of noise that …
Electronic Device Theft
By: Community Officer Jeff Kirchman Electronic device theft is one of the most common crimes reported to UWPD, second only to bicycle theft. This includes laptops, cell phones, and backpacks containing these and other electronic …
Lake Rescue Season Concludes
The UWPD Lake Rescue & Safety Unit has concluded its 115th season of service on Lake Mendota. The unit’s calls for service have resulted in over 250 people being helped on the lake this year. …
Get Winter Ready: What You Need to Know
The coming of winter yields an uptick in a variety of risks. Depending on where you’re from, winter might not automatically come to mind when you’re thinking of risk or dangerous environments, but the data proves otherwise.
UWPD Responds to Racist Text Messages
The UW-Madison Police Department is aware of reports that Black UW-Madison students have received racist text messages as part of a nationwide wave of messages that began on Thursday. The messages contain references to slavery …
If You Don’t Know What to Do, Know Who to Call
Everyone hopes to live their entire life without having to call 911. However, with over 600,000 calls to 911 daily in the United States, chances are you will need to do so at some point. …
Ticket Scams: What to Watch for
Since the start of the Badger Football season, the UW-Madison Police Department has received an increase in reports of online ticket scams, particularly targeting students and student tickets. The scams are similar in nature: a …
A Scam Involving Students: Learn the Signs
Recently, parents of a UW–Madison student contacted UWPD to describe what they suspected was an attempt to scam them. The couple reported that a person, claiming to be a UW–Madison security officer, had stopped their son’s vehicle, and found something illegal. The caller demanded they pay a “bond” to prevent the student from going to jail.
UWPD Investigating String of Scooter & Bike Thefts
9/27/24 update: UWPD is releasing images of the two suspects responsible for a series of e-bike and e-scooter thefts in downtown Madison. If you know them or have any information, please call the UW-Madison Police …