Alert - Fraudulent Activities Targeting University Suppliers

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The University of Guelph has been alerted recently by some other Ontario universities of fraudulent activities where fraudsters have used university names in attempting to defraud suppliers.  ​
 
The University of Guelph is not aware that any of our suppliers have been targeted by these fraudsters so far. However, we would like to advise all suppliers that, if you are asked to ship your products to any delivery point outside of the UofG official delivery locations, please be vigilant and confirm verbally with our Purchasing staff.  
 

All University of Guelph Official Delivery Locations

Location Address Postal Code
Main Campus 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Lab Services 95 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1H 8J7
Turfgrass Institute RR 2, 328 Victoria Rd. South, Guelph, ON N1H 6H8
Ridgetown Campus 120 Main Street E., Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0
Alma Research Station 6957 8th Line W, RR1, Elora, ON N0B 1J0
Arkell Research Station 0413 Arkell Road, RR 2, Guelph, ON N1H 6H8
Elora Research Station 6182 2nd Line E, RR2, Ariss, ON N0B 1B0
Huron Research Station RR#1 70257 Airport Road, Exeter, ON N0M 1S4
Muck Crops Research Station 1125 Woodshoppers Lane, Kettleby, ON L0G 1J0
New Liskeard Research Station 340 Armstrong St., New Liskeard, ON P0J 1P0
Ponsonby Research Station 7534 8th Line Nichol Twp, RR5, Guelph, ON N1H 6J2
Simcoe Research Station 1283 Buleline Rd, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4N5
Vineland Research Station 4890 Victoria Ave N, Vineland, ON L0R 2E0
Woodstock Research Station RR #3, Woodstock, ON N4S 7V7

What is happening? 

  • Fraudsters impersonate employees from a university and email suppliers to request quotes for products.
  • Once a supplier responds to the email, the fraudsters ask for the products to be shipped to a shipping address that's actually a logistic or warehousing company not affiliated with the university.
  • The fraudsters contact the logistics or warehousing company to re-route the shipment via cross docking request. 
  • The products are gone and the supplier contacts the university for reimbursement. 

What should you look out for?  

  •  Fake domains: fraudsters will send emails from domains that look like they are coming from the University, but maybe spelled differently (e.g. @uofguelph.com).
  • Suspicious requests: fraudsters will request orders for large quantities of products (e.g. electronics, lab equipment, cameras).
  • Unrecognized shipping address: fraudsters will provide suppliers with shipping addresses that are not affiliated with the University in order to re-route products sent by suppliers.

What should you do?

  • Call your contacts at the UofG Purchasing Services to confirm the order and the shipping address.