Be Aware of E-mail Scams
Many different versions of e-mail scams are currently circulating the Internet. Read about the latest, involving the FBI.
A common example of an e-mail scam is a message that appears to be from a well-known bank such as Citizens Bank or Citicorp. View an example here. The messages ask the customer to provide or update confidential personal information via a spoof Web site. The message may allude to an urgent or threatening condition about your account. It may even refer to a scam that has put your account in danger. These messages are hoax e-mails, also called "phishing" or "spoof" e-mails. Do not reply to these messages.
Even if you do not provide what they ask, simply clicking on the link could make your computer vulnerable to viruses or hackers. Never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited e-mail messages.
Think you know the real thing from a spoof? Take this quiz from the Washington Post online and find out.
Keep your personal information and your campus computing safe:
- Use a personal e-mail account (such as Hotmail or Yahoo! mail) when a Web site requires it for registration.
- Never provide personal or financial information on an Internet site unless you are confident that the site is secure and legitimate.
- Never provide credit card or bank account information in response to unsolicitied e-mail messages, regardless of how enticing or plausible the prospects.
If you have questions about the legitimacy of an e-mail message related to financial information, call your personal financial institution. You may also contact the Help Desk at xHELP (x4357) or online here. |
