Monday, June 1, 2009
Don't Get Phished
Considering how much we use electronic media today, keeping our computers and data secure is crucial. USD receives about 730,000 e-mails per day, of which only about 280,000 are legitimate. This gives you some idea of how much garbage is out there.
Phishing e-mails are unsolicited e-mails sent to random e-mail addresses, allegedly from a financial service firm (PayPal, a bank or other financial institution, the IRS, etc.). They appear to be legitimate but are actually a scam designed to obtain your personal information in order to defraud you.
By using the names of established firms and fake Web sites, phishers convince recipients to respond with their personal information. The scammers can then withdraw money from accounts or make other unauthorized transactions.
Be wary of any unsolicited e-mail that appears
- to be from a financial services company requesting personal information, particularly one that tries to scare you.
- Immediately delete any e-mails that you suspect are fraudulent. Report them to abuse@sandiego.edu, and avoid opening them.
- If you do open an e-mail that you suspect is a scam, do not click on any links or open any attachments provided.
Contact Tech Support Center for more information.
