WMU Home > About WMU > WMU News

WMU News

New e-mail scam hits campus

March 30, 2007

KALAMAZOO--There have been 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.

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.

WMU faculty, staff and students may report spam e-mail messages and suspected Internet fraud to abuse@wmich.edu.

Media contact: Thom Myers, (269) 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news