Summer break is right around the corner, and many in the WashU community will be traveling or looking for a summer job. Unfortunately, the devices we rely on for managing travel have also become targets for theft and cybercrime.
Whether you are searching for a job or taking a trip, please protect yourself and the WashU community. Remember the following tips to stay safe in either situation:
Travel Light
- Lighten your load and keep your belongings close to minimize the chance that something will be lost or stolen.
- Make a copy of your important documents. If you lose the originals, you can report loss or theft with the information on the copies. Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if you lost your passport outside the U.S.
- Minimize how much cash you carry. A cashless wallet is less valuable to a thief, and you can dispute credit card charges with the credit card company. If you are traveling, notify your credit card company so they do not mistake your out-of-country purchases for fraudulent transactions.
- If you travel with a device, offload sensitive data before leaving. Save your files in WUST Box or OneDrive before leaving and remove them from your device. Remember to check your Downloads folder and Trash for files containing sensitive and protected information.
- If you’re a faculty or staff member traveling for university business, consider using a loaner laptop for travel. These devices are encrypted to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to private or proprietary information.
Looking for work?
- Go right to a trusted source and search for jobs and internships with WashU’s career management partner, Handshake.
- Google the company. If you get a stock website or nothing at all, there is a strong possibility that the company does not exist.
- Be suspicious of job postings that offer high pay with a vague job description. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- According to LinkedIn, “any legitimate recruiter, HR person, or hiring manager will contact you from a corporate account,” never from a personal email address.
- Never provide any routing numbers or information for direct deposit until you are hired. Your employer should not need your direct deposit information until you’ve shown up to your first day of work.
Searching for jobs can be exciting, scary, and overwhelming. Remember to stay calm and keep the tips above in mind throughout the process. If you ever see something unusual, be sure to reach out to InfoSec@wustl.edu for help!
Further Reading
Travel | Office of Information Security | Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu)
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (state.gov)
Job Posting Scam | Office of Information Security | Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu)