Category: Messages to the Community

Title: Alert: Individual Impersonating GUPD Officer by Phone/Text

Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,

We have received concerning notices from several members of the community about an individual impersonating a Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) officer by phone call and text. Affected community members report that they have received calls or texts from an unknown individual appearing to use the GUPD phone number (202-687-4343), claiming that they are a GUPD officer, and threatening arrest. This is known as Caller ID Spoofing.

In most reported cases, the individual identifies himself as “Officer James of GUPD”, tells the recipient that they have been named in a drug-possession arrest warrant, and threatens to arrest them.

If you have any information about this, or receive such a call or text, do not engage or provide any personal information, hang up, and call GUPD right away (202-687-4343) or text using the LiveSafe App so that the matter can be investigated. Please be assured that a call to 202-687-4343 will go to the Georgetown University Police Department and will not call back the impersonator.

Thus far, it appears likely there is no breach of personal data or Georgetown University systems – all contacted individuals had work phone numbers listed as “public” in Georgetown Management System (GMS). If you would like to update the listing status of your work phone number you may do so in GMS by following these instructions for updating your contact information. It may take up to 24-72 hours for the change to appear.

We are working with University Information Services (UIS) to assess the situation and thank you for your vigilance and cooperation on this matter.

Sincerely,

Jay Gruber
Chief of Police, Associate Vice President for Public Safety