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"IRS" e-mail scam continues to circulateSept. 7, 2007 KALAMAZOO--There are continued reports across Western Michigan University's campus of e-mail messages that appear to come from the Internal Revenue Service requesting that the recipient confirm a Social Security number, bank account or other personal information. The scam was first reported in WMU News in March. System security officers in the Office of Information Technology urge all users to exercise common sense and carefully guard personal information. Never send private information by e-mail, including Social Security, credit card, debit card, drivers license or financial account numbers. E-mail is not secure. Never share passwords for online accounts or services with anyone. That includes passwords for financial accounts, e-shopping, e-mail and the password for your Bronco NetID. If you have shared a password with anyone, change it immediately. Reputable organizations will direct you to provide personal information through a verifiable, secure Web site or by other private means. Legitimate businesses and organizations will never ask you to confirm your account numbers or other private information by reply e-mail. Later this month, a Web page with more detailed information about dealing with spam will be introduced. It will include instructions for customizing WMU's spam and virus protection settings to match a desired level of security and how to effectively report suspected Internet fraud. Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu WMU News |
