Faculty, staff reminded to be alert for suspicious emails

June 02, 2016

Faculty, staff reminded to be alert for suspicious emails

The Office of Information Technology-Security has received numerous complaints regarding email scams this week. Faculty and staff are reminded to be alert for suspicious emails. 

The email scams have the following subject lines and content:

• “Upgrade your email ID.” This email is sent from a compromised SIU email address and asks users to “Click here.” The link redirects users to a page where they are asked to enter their email account information including their full name, email address, password and “re-password.” The site is blocked from preventing users accessing it on campus, but the email and site can still be accessed off campus using other service providers. Do not click on the link, and if you inadvertently do, do not provide any information. Close the opened window and delete the email.
• “Account has been disabled.” This email is sent from a live.mercer.edu email address. The email asks users to click a fake SIU website. The site has now been blocked to prevent users from accessing the site from within the campus. However, the email can still be accessed off campus using other service providers. Do not visit the page and delete the email.
• “Helpdesk.” This email is also sent from a compromised SIU email address. The email asks users to “Click here.”  If you receive this email, do not click on the link and delete the email.

Scammers are very resourceful, so protect yourself when you are online using a mobile device, computer, or gaming system. Beware of any suspicious “contact” that you receive. Contact includes email from an unknown source, email that asks you to click on links, and popups or webpages that request any personal information. Alert the Office of Information Technology at scam@siu.edu if you suspect you have been contacted by scammers or have actually fallen for a scam. 

Alerts for known scams are also posted here and tweeted here.