Dear Students,
We are writing to alert you to a recent online scam that has unfortunately targeted members of the USF community. We are sharing this information so that you can recognize the scam, protect yourself, and know what to do if you are contacted.
Although the details vary, the scam typically involves an invitation to participate as a model in a fictitious USF art project titled Unveiling the Unknown or Project MUSE. Scammers usually contact students through direct messages on social media platforms — particularly TikTok and Instagram — and invite them to participate in what they falsely claim is a USF-sponsored art project.
To make the scheme appear legitimate, the scammers use forged USF letterhead and frequently identify the Department of Art + Architecture and its faculty as project sponsors. In at least one instance, the scammers falsely claimed to be a USF student and used the photograph of an actual USF student without permission to lend credibility to the deception.
As the conversation progresses, the scammers may ask to use personal photographs for the supposed art project, request payment or offer compensation related to the fake project, or ask for personal information such as cell phone numbers. These requests are fraudulent and should not be trusted.
This is a deliberate attempt to deceive members of our community and may place students' personal information, privacy, and financial security at risk. Please be vigilant if you receive any unsolicited messages of this nature.
If you are contacted, do not respond or provide any personal information. Instead, block the sender immediately, preserve any relevant evidence (including screenshots, usernames, and messages), and report the incident to Public Safety at dispatcher@office.usfca.edu or by calling (415) 422-4201 as soon as possible. You should also report the account to the social media platform through which you were contacted.
Thank you for your attention and for helping keep our community safe.
Lester Deanes
Associate Vice President & Dean of Students
Division of Student Life