E-mails claiming to be sent from Washington Mutual, Inc. and First Federal Internet Banking were recently received in several university e-mail accounts, requesting that account holders confirm account information by visiting a seemingly legitimate online banking Web site.
Please be aware that the Office of Technology Services (OTS) suspects that these e-mails take advantage of the growing Internet scheme known as phishing. Never respond to requests for personal information via e-mail without first verifying that the e-mail was legitimate. Use a telephone number you obtained separately from the unsolicited e-mail.
Phishing involves the use of seemingly legitimate e-mail messages and Web sites to deceive customers into disclosing private information, such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, passwords, etc. Bank logos, Web links and graphics are used to mislead e-mail recipients. Some customers could mistakenly submit financial and personal information to the perpetrator who will use it to gain access to financial records or accounts, commit identity theft or engage in other illegal acts.
To help safeguard against phishing, OTS recommends following this advice:
