Welcome to the Spring Semester!

At the start of each semester, cybercriminals increase their activity in hopes that among the busyness, you will fail to take basic safety precautions to protect yourself, your money, and your information.

As you settle in, Information Technology Services (ITS) wants to warn you about tricks cybercriminals use via phishing emails and to encourage you to be vigilant.

Be on the lookout for:

Fake job offers
Jobs that require you to deposit a check into your account before you are employed are fake. Cybercriminals regularly send phish about jobs that promise high wages for little work.

Gift card purchases
Emails claiming to come from your supervisor asking if you are available and for your cell phone number. You may receive a text asking you to purchase gift cards and text the gift card number and PIN to the scammer.

Fake student loan forgiveness
By email or phone, a person claiming to be with a company that can assist with getting your student loans forgiven or with repayment plans for a fee. The U.S. Department of Education does not charge to assist with student loan forgiveness or repayment plans.

Phony technical support
Representatives will not contact you directly or through a pop-up to fix your computer. It is a scam to get your credit card information to steal from you or to get you to install malicious software on your computer.

Unsolicited emails with links
Cybercriminals send phishing emails to your account with malware or Ransomware links. If you click on the links, you can jeopardize your computer’s operation or systems connected to your computer. Ransomware will lock you out of your computer and ask for money to release your files.

Requests for your login, password, and a Two-Factor Authentication code
Remember, no reputable organization will ask you for your username and password, nor will it ask you for a push code to access your account.

Please remain vigilant to keep yourself, your money, and your account safe.

You can also find additional information about phishing at https://its.gmu.edu/security/phishing.

Report unsolicited or suspicious emails to the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu.