Please be aware of a scams !
It happens every few months and good people who get taken have to clean up the mess. Scams on the Internet are everywhere. Fortunately, we can avoid most of them if we just practice certain precautions. Last week some of our staff received emails that appeared to be from our help desk asking for the person’s user ID and password. These emails were from outside our system from hackers trying to get access to email accounts. They were very good in that they had copied everything about our system.
If you use email, at some point you will get an email asking for user names, passwords, account numbers, verification information and other personal information. Tempted as you may be, do not respond to these emails. Legitimate organizations will not ask for this information in an email.
The recent H1N1 flu outbreak has made all of us aware of things to do to aviod the flu. The most common advice, wash your hands frequently. This simple practice reduces your chances of getting the flu. Rememberng some simple email practices can also protect you from scams and other email threats.
Please be reminded that:
1) The legitimate organizations will never ask you to send your user name and password in an email. That is too insecure.
2) You should never send your username and password or any other personal or identifying information to anyone using email.
3) Beware of anyone asking you for any type of security information whether by email, phone or in person. This is called social engineering and this person may be trying to get access to secure information.
4) Sometimes the computer technicians will ask you for this information while servicing and maintaining your computer. Please make sure that you know who you are talking with and that they are indeed from the business they represent. Again, this would not be by email, so do not send any information through email. When they are finished, immediately change your password.
5) If you receive an email asking for security information, please delete it immediately.
6) If you think someone has access to your bank accounts and other personal information, report it to the authorities and the bank immediately.
7) As a good practice, if an email looks strange, question and delete it.
8) And as a last step, always keep your virus protection and software up-to-date. That’s like taking a flu shot.
Thank you for your continued awareness using email and the Internet.
