If you think you have fallen prey to a phishing email, forward the email immediately to phishing@towson.edu then contact the OTS Faculty/Staff Help Center at 410-704-5151 for assistance. The following are actual tax phishing emails forwarded by TU employees to the phishing@towson.edu mailbox:
Example 1:
From: IRS/E-file Validation [mailto: student@college.edu]
Subject: Record Validation
IRS/E-file Q&A Validation Act.
Record Shows You Are Still Yet To Validate.
Internal Revenue Service
Your 2014 1098-T tax Form is now available electronically on E-file Self-Service. It’s Quick, Easy and Secure.
click here to Update Immediately – < Update >
For your protection, this link would expire in few hours
Example 2:
From: Federal TAX Payment [mailto:confrim@business.com]
Subject: Federal TAX
Тhаnk yоu fоr using Online Payment Serviсе. Yоur confirmаtion numbеr is 3458934. Тhis emаil cоnfirms thаt your Fеderal TАX paуment was NОT rесeivеd. If уou wоuld like а papеr recеiрt, plеase print attaсhment file.
Тоtаl: $1274.86
Рleasе edit cоnfirmаtion filе аnd resеnd it tо us.
Protect Yourself!
- The IRS will NEVER contact you by email
- Never open suspicious attachments, especially those housed in an email with an unfamiliar subject line
For more information on how to protect yourself from phishing attempts and stay safe online, go to OTS’s Office of Information Security website.
