Recently we have been contacted about email messages some people have received asking for verification of personal information in order to maintain a university account. Please be advised that this message did not originate from any department at Olivet Nazarene University. If you have received any message like this and replied with any of your account details, we recommend you change your network/email password immediately to prevent possible misuse of your account. If you need assistance with this, please contact the IT Help Desk at extension 5302 from on-campus or at (815) 939-5302 or (866) 400-5302 (toll-free) from off-campus.

Messages such as the one mentioned above are a form of scamming called phishing. In an attempt to obtain information that can be used for identity theft and fraud, scammers create messages and web sites that look like real businesses and organizations you may deal with on a regular basis. The most common form of phishing are messages that appear to come from banks and other financial institutions. The message may ask you to reply, go to a specific web address, or call a specific telephone number in order to update your information. Like Olivet, your bank, credit card company, or any other organization you interact with should have policies in place that indicate how you will be contacted and how you should contact them if there is ever a question about your information. Legitimate organizations will not ask for this information via email. You should never send or share your password with anyone and nobody at Olivet should ask for your password.

In the Information Technology department here at Olivet, we monitor and try to minimize the exposure of our faculty, staff, and students to these kinds of scams. Even with those efforts, however, we cannot prevent all instances of phishing or other Internet scams from getting through to your mailbox. Here are a few web sites you can visit to learn more about what phishing is and steps you can take to protect yourself from these and other types of scams:

• OnGuard Online (http://onguardonline.gov/phishing.html) - Information and tips from the federal government and technology industry about securing your computer and personal information.
• PhishingInfo.org (http://www.phishinginfo.org) - Addresses phishing specifically with information on how to avoid becoming a victim and what to do if you have been hooked.
• Truth or Fiction (http://www.truthorfiction.com) - Background information on various hoaxes, rumors, viruses, and other stories you may encounter and indicates if it is legitimate or not.
• ScamBusters.org (http://www.scambusters.org) - Similar to Truth or Fiction in providing background information about various items you may encounter.

If you ever have a question or concern about something you receive or hear, please do not hesitate to contact the Help Desk. We can be reached at the numbers above or by email at it@olivet.edu.

Thank you.

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