University of Minnesota officials are warning students to beware of a widespread e-mail scam that has swindled at least one student out of thousands of dollars.

As Sara Schweid reports in The Minnesota Daily, the scam targets students hoping to sublet their apartments. Typically, they’ll receive an e-mail from someone overseas inquiring about the apartment. Once an agreement is worked out, the person subletting the unit will wire a money order or bank check that exceeds the first month’s rent and ask the student to send them the difference. The check then bounces and the student loses the rent check and the remainder of the money.

Six U of M students have reported the fraud; one has been unable to recover her money, said Mike Karon, director of the University’s Legal Services office. “You’re wiring that person the funds, and it immediately clears the bank; you can’t put a stop on it or anything like that,” he said.

Karon suggested that students narrow their subletting candidates to people who could view the apartment.