Scam Alerts
Don’t get fooled into falling for a scam! Unfortunately, scams are happening ever day and not just to you, but to all of us. We in the OIS also receive multiple scams via email to our personal and work email accounts and to our phones. The scam methods are becoming even craftier than before and we must always be in defense mode when we scrutinize emails and phone calls.
The University has seen an increase in scam reports and a common theme is that these scams are happening via phone and text messages and they appear as if they are coming from colleagues, supervisors, departments, etc.
Here are a few examples.
Example 1: Scammer left a voicemail alerting the individual that laws have changed with regards to their student loan and that the individual should call a specific number and give the representative their referral ID that is provided by the scammer. After listening to the voicemail, the individual realized it was a scam right away as they no longer have student loans and therefore they blocked the number in their phone and deleted the voicemail.
Example 2: Scammer called an international visitor and claimed to be an Immigration Officer and said that their immigration status was in jeopardy unless they submit payment. The scammer was convincing enough that the international visitor purchased gift cards per the scammer’s request and provided the gift card numbers to the scammer and lost money. Thankfully, the international visitor was safe but the incident did cause great distress. In this type of situation, you should immediately reach out to the OIS and University Police (UTPD) and if this is happening after hours, contact UTPD.
Don’t be a victim. If you receive a call, an email, or even a text message and it appears to be “fishy,” contact our office and/or UTPD. We will connect you with UTPD if necessary. Make sure that you are periodically keeping yourself informed of what’s happening by reviewing Information Security’s website.
Forewarned is forearmed! Now you know and now you can prepare.
Tips:
- Check out the Phish Bowl Blog if you received a suspicious email to see if someone else has already reported it. If not and you deem it to be suspicious, report it by using the Phish Alert button feature in Outlook.
- If you don’t know the number that is calling you, don’t pick up. Let the individual leave you a voicemail and listen to it later, that is, if the caller leaves a voicemail. However, be on high alert when listening to your voicemail messages. Some methods of scammers are to leave a voicemail and trying to hook you in so that you call back. Don’t get caught on the phisher’s line!
- Check out the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information’s Scam Alerts.