A woman in her late 20s was recently arrested after she allegedly posed as a teenager and attended a New York City high school.

The New York Police Department, in an email to USA TODAY, said that around 12:15 p.m. EDT on April 27, officers responded to a call regarding “possible identity theft” at Westchester Square Academy in the Bronx.

When officers arrived, the school staff said that “an unidentified female was trespassing inside of the location.” Kacy Claassen, 28, was subsequently taken into custody without incident, according to police.

Claassen is currently facing criminal impersonation and trespassing charges, police said. Claassen pleaded not guilty and will return to court in June, according to New York State court records.

USA TODAY has reached out to Joseph Hayes Rochman, Claassen’s attorney, and Westchester Square Academy for comment.

Here’s what to know about the case.

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How did Claassen allegedly pose as a student?

On April 13, Claassen enrolled at Westchester Square Academy in New York City’s Bronx neighborhood, using the pseudonym Shamara Rashad, according to a criminal complaint obtained by local TV station ABC 7 and the Associated Press.

Within two weeks, school administrators grew suspicious of Claassen’s identity, and the school’s principal, Marques Rich, dug up her Facebook profile, per the outlets.

Rich reportedly confronted Claassen, who continued to deny her true identity, saying she was Rashad, a 16-year-old Ohio native who moved to the city with her sister, according to the complaint.

It wasn’t until Claassen was brought face-to-face with a screenshot of her own Facebook profile, complete with her true date of birth and previous residence in Kansas, that she finally came clean, the complaint said. She blamed a friend for forcing the ruse upon her, in the hope of collecting public assistance money from the city, according to the complaint.

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‘Ghost students’ trend

In a statement shared with USA TODAY, NYC Schools said, “Enrollment fraud is a serious crime that fundamentally undermines New York City Public School values,” adding, “The NYPD is actively investigating these allegations and will pursue all appropriate legal action against those responsible.”

Claassen’s case mirrors a larger trend at the collegiate level known as “ghost students,” in which scammers sign up for community college courses using fake identities, collect financial aid payments and then disappear.

According to reports, the Department of Education identified $150 million that was lost to the scheme in 2025.

Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 28-year-old woman accused of impersonating as NYC high school student