INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES: Cyber Threats

1) Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams

According to the National Credit Union Administration, scholarship and financial aid scams may involve:

1. Scammers calling to award a non-existent scholarship
2. Fraudulent scholarship websites that are set up to collect email addresses or other details for future scams
3. Financial aid services that charge well over $1,000 for actions that the student or his or her family can complete for free

2) Employment Scams
Some red flags for job scams are: offers that appear too good to be true, requests for upfront payment or personal information, a suspicious-looking email address or company website, or being asked to interview in an unusual location.

3) Imposter Scams/Identity Theft
Emotional or threatening calls should be disconnected.  They try to scare you into doing something without thinking about it first. To make the scam seem even more realistic, the scammer may ‘spoof’ the incoming call, making it look like the call originated from a number the victim recognizes. 

5) Nonexistent Apartments, Books, and Moving Services 
Never agree to rent an apartment without seeing it both inside and outside and don’t make a deposit or pay rent over the phone. 

6) Misleading Credit Card Offers 
Protect Yourself By Doing your own research if you need a credit card, instead of responding to a solicitation.

7) Public Wi-Fi Scams 
Avoid logging on to banking or other sensitive sites while on public Wi-Fi networks and, if possible, don’t visit any website on public Wi-Fi that requires you to enter your password.

8) Social Media Scams Protect Yourself By Only adding friends you actually know, limiting the amount of information you post online, and being cautious of invitations to “like” pages.

9) Blackmail 
Don't do anything that family, friends or employers would find offensive, or you can expect it could have been documented.

Easy ways id thieves/imposter can get your info

• Personal information you share on the internet
• Someone checks your trash and finds personal information

What they might do:

• Fill out pre-approved credit offers
• Claim tax refund or other benefits in your name
• Open a phone or wireless service in your name

Prevention is easier than fixing 

• Don't share private info ( especially passwords!)
• Use strong passwords (security.harvard.edu)
• Shred sensitive docs
• Check credit card and bank statements