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Reminder about phishing scams

Over the last few weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of phishing scams hitting K-State inboxes. A common scam offers a part-time job opportunity. This type of scam is enticing, especially since it is the end of the semester, and students might be looking for work. Other common scams are from an administrator with one question, “are you available” or a one liner, “hello”.

Students have fallen for the scam, sometimes more than once. ​This time of year, when students are the busiest is when scammers hit the hardest.

Please be careful and don’t respond to scams. How can you tell if an email is a scam?

  • Typos in the email and poor spelling, but this may not always be the case.
  • The urgency of the message –  “have to do this today,” “don’t delay,” “immediately,” etc.
  • The web address goes to a fake login page used to collect credentials.
  • Threatening nature of the wording or the promise of “cool cash” or easy money.
  • An already compromised K-State email account sends scams to another K-State email account (to help build credibility).
  • An email asking you to send a cash card such as an iTunes card either by sending the scammer specific numbers from the card or taking a picture of the card.

To see examples, please visit the K-State scams blog.  https://blogs.k-state.edu/scams/

If you are not sure about an email, please don’t respond.  Information Technology Services (ITS) can determine if an email is a scam. Send the questionable email to  abuse@ksu.edu. If it is a new scam, ITS post a notice on the scams blog to make the K-State community aware of the latest scams.

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