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Scam of the Month: Document Shared with You
The Office of Information Security has identified a trend in which criminals send members of our community a Google Document containing a malicious link, in hopes that a victim may give up their credentials. In this more elaborate scam, hackers posed as Adis Avila, who is not an individual who works at our university, sending […]
Phishing Alert: Credential Phishing via QR Code
How this Scam Works Members of the WashU community are being targeted by criminals using malicious QR codes to steal valuable and personal information. The QR codes targeting WashU credentials lead an unsuspecting victim to a fake WUSTL Key login page. If the victim enters any information on the malicious login page, they will unknowingly […]
Phishing Alert: Credential Phishing via Google Form
How this Scam Works Members of the WashU community are receiving fraudulent shared document emails that ask them to divulge their WUSTL Key and credentials in a Google Form. Victims receive a fraudulent email about a shared document from an email address outside of WashU: When a victim clicks the link in the email, they […]
Scam of the Month: Geek Squad Customer Service
The Office of Information Security observes a trend in which criminals send a fraudulent order confirmation claiming the recipient will be charged almost $500. The criminals hope victims will call a phone number to refute the “purchase” and disclose their banking information. If you see a message like the one below, please do not interact […]
Scam of the Month: Compromised Email
The Office of Information Security observes a trend in which criminals use a compromised email account to trick victims into divulging their WUSTL Key password. In this scam, criminals took over a legitimate email address from UT Health San Antonio and used it to send phishing emails. Victims who click on the phishing link are […]
Scam of the Month: Sheriff Impersonation
The Office of Information Security observes a trend in which criminals impersonate the sheriff’s office over the telephone. These scammers claim you signed for a subpoena, are an expert witness, or are a juror and never showed up for court and then demand payment. Along with a false accusation, scammers may list your personal information […]
Scam of the Month: DEA Impersonation
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning the public of a widespread fraud scheme where scammers impersonate DEA agents to extort money or steal personally identifiable information. DEA personnel will never contact members of the public to demand payment or sensitive information. No legitimate federal law enforcement officer will request cash or gift cards from […]
Scam of the Month: Phish Text “from Andrew Martin”
The Office of Information Security has observed a trend in which criminals impersonate Chancellor Andrew Martin over text message. Impersonation is one of the most effective social engineering tactics used by scammers, and it can be particularly powerful when the person being impersonated is in a position of authority. If you see a message like […]
Phishing Alert: Student Job Offer
How this scam works WashU students are reporting they are receiving fraudulent job offers promising hundreds of dollars per week. The scammer will often ask you to move the conversation to some different, non-WashU messaging platform, like text, before requesting sensitive information like social security numbers, bank account information, etc. What you should do If […]
Scam of the Month: Windows Defender Pop-ups
The Office of Information Security has observed a trend in which criminals send a fake error message on a website, saying there is a virus on your computer. These fake error messages aim to scare you into calling their “technical support hotline,” and they will likely ask you to install applications that give them remote […]
Secure Electronic Waste & Paper Shredding Drive on Danforth Campus
On Tuesday, March 28, from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, the Office of Sustainability and WashU Office of Information Security are teaming up to bring the WashU community e-waste recycling and confidential paper shredding services. Certified vendors will securely and safely recycle all confidential papers and hard drives. All are welcome to bring accepted items […]
Scam of the Month: Available Cell Phone? Quick response?
The Office of Information Security observes a trend in which criminals send an email impersonating a Professor of Mathematics, hoping that victims will share their phone number and eventually purchase gift cards for them. If you see a message like the one below, please do not interact with the sender or phone number, and do […]
InfoSec Alert: LastPass Security Breach
On December 22nd, 2022, LastPass notified their customer base of a cybersecurity incident that put customer data and passwords at risk. This incident occurred in November of 2022. Bad actors could potentially possess encrypted user data that includes “usernames, passwords, secure notes, and form-filled data,” according to LastPass. While in possession of this data, the bad […]
Phishing Alert: Credential Phishing Detected on Campus
The Office of Information Security received a reported phishing message claiming to be from Washington University and threatening to terminate user accounts. This malicious email asks the user to cut and paste a URL into their browser. This phishing website prompts for a WUSTLKey username, password, and phone number. Unsuspecting victims who type their credentials […]
October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October is a global effort to help everyone stay protected whenever and however they connect. The theme for the month is “It’s easy to stay safe online,” and The Office of Information Security is proud to be a Cybersecurity Awareness Champion, supporting online safety throughout the year. We’re here to help […]
Scam of the Month: Fake Password Expiration
The Office of Information Security has observed a trend where criminals send fraudulent password expiration notices in hopes that victims will disclose their WUSTL Key on a fake login page. If you see a message like the one below, please do not interact with any links or follow any special instructions regarding authentication methods. Simply […]
Scam of the Month: Student-Focused Scams
As school begins on campuses nationwide, criminals turn their attention to scams targeting students who are busy preparing for the upcoming semester. Criminals frequently rely on timely topics and strategies to exploit their victims. Below, you will find examples of real scam emails reported to our team within the last month. As we all gear […]
InfoSec Alert: Critical Security Updates for Apple Devices (iOS, macOS)
Apple recently released a critical software update for all iOS (iPhones and iPads) and macOS devices designated iOS 15.6.1 and macOS 12.5.1. With the launch of these updates, Apple took the increasingly common step of alerting users that these updates patch vulnerabilities that criminals may actively exploit. Please update your iOS and macOS devices as […]
Scam of the Month: Fake (Real) Invoice Scam
The Office of Information Security has observed a trend where criminals are sending fraudulent invoices to unsuspecting victims in hopes that they will be paid without the recipient noting that they are part of a scam. The tricky part of this particular scam is that the invoices are actually generated by payment handlers like PayPal. […]
Joint IT and InfoSec Project Seeks Better Protections for WashU
A joint Information Technology and Office of Information Security vulnerability management project aims to strengthen and better protect the WashU network from attacks. The project has two main objectives: Install CrowdStrike on all Wash U servers immediately. Remediate tool-evaluated critical vulnerabilities, guiding department owners through updates, patches, and other steps. About Objective 1 WashU IT […]