WVU Police Warn of Alleged Serial Scammer on Campus

65-year-old Jerry Buracker accused of impersonating an inspector and stealing checks

Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:55pm

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An extreme close-up of a crumpled personal check, the paper's texture and folds dramatically illuminated by a harsh flash against a black void, conceptually representing the aftermath of a campus fraud incident.A discarded personal check left behind after an alleged campus fraud incident exposes the vulnerability of university communities to serial scammers.Morgantown Today

The West Virginia University Police Department has issued a community notice after a 65-year-old man named Jerry Buracker allegedly entered a campus building, claimed to be a building inspector, and stole personal checks which he then tried to cash using an employee's signature. Buracker is wanted on at least 11 other outstanding warrants in other states for alleged theft and fraud.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the need for increased vigilance and security measures on college campuses, where students and staff can be vulnerable to scams and criminal activity. It also raises concerns about the broader issue of serial fraudsters targeting multiple jurisdictions and the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and apprehending such individuals.

The details

According to the WVU police, on April 7th Buracker entered a campus building, claimed to be a building inspector, and stole personal checks which he then attempted to cash at local banks using an employee's signature that he had obtained by asking for a sign off on his fake work. Buracker is described as a white male standing 5'9" tall with gray hair, and was driving a 2025 black Hyundai rental car with an Alabama license plate at the time of the alleged crimes.

  • On April 7, Buracker allegedly entered a WVU campus building and committed the crimes.

The players

Jerry Buracker

A 65-year-old man who is wanted on at least 11 other outstanding warrants in other states for alleged theft and fraud.

WVU Police Department

The law enforcement agency that issued the community notice about Buracker and is investigating the alleged campus crimes.

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What’s next

The WVU Police Department is actively investigating the incident and urging anyone with information about Buracker's whereabouts to come forward. They are also working to coordinate with law enforcement in other jurisdictions where Buracker is wanted on outstanding warrants.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of campus security and the need for vigilance against serial scammers who target vulnerable populations. It also highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in tracking down and apprehending individuals who commit crimes across multiple states.