I am writing to alert you to a recent scam that has been targeting students at our university. The scam involves a fake email that appears to be from the university’s financial aid office. The email asks students to provide their personal information, such as their Social Security number and bank account number, in order to receive a financial aid refund.
Please do not click on any links or provide any personal information in response to this email. The email is a scam and the information you provide will be used to steal your identity.
If you have any questions, please contact your financial aid office.
The scam is a common scam that targets students at universities across the country. The scam is designed to steal students’ personal information, such as their Social Security number and bank account number.
If you receive an email from the university’s financial aid office that asks for your personal information, do not click on any links or provide any information. Instead, contact the financial aid office directly to verify the authenticity of the email.
Here are some tips to help you avoid falling victim to a scam:
- Be suspicious of any email that asks for your personal information.
Legitimate businesses will never ask for your personal information in an email. - Never click on links in emails from unknown senders.
Instead, type the website address into your browser yourself. - Be careful about what information you share on social media.
Scammers can use information you share on social media to target you with scams.
If you think you have been the victim of a scam, you should contact the following:
- Your bank or credit card company.
They can help you protect your accounts from fraud. - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC can help you file a complaint and get your money back. - The University Police.
They can investigate the crime, spread word to the IT cyber security department and maybe even help you catch the scammer (no, not really).
What other email scams, phishing, or fraud have you encountered
and want to warn others about?