Phishing scams increase
Earlier this month, officials with the Department of Public Safety (DPS) again alerted the University community about e-mail scams, commonly called phishing e-mails. E-mail accounts at U-M continue to receive frequent messages that appear to be sent by financial institutions, Internet services or payroll companies requesting that users update personal information. These e-mails are frauds and should be deleted immediately.
Often the fraudulent messages contain company logos and look very official. Usually the message includes a sense of urgency, requesting the reader to respond immediately in order to continue their account access. Some of the e-mails appear to be sent by national banks (Citibank, for example), others from institutions with offices in the community (TCF Bank) and others from businesses with whom staff and students may conduct business (eBay and PayPal, for instance).
DPS has received seven reports since late November from individuals—five students and two staff—who have been victimized by these scams. The victims all had accounts with TCF Bank and are working with the bank to resolve the situation.
DPS warns that financial institutions do not request information via e-mails that require the recipient to follow a link to another site. Do not respond to such e-mail requests.
In order to determine whether an e-mail request is legitimate, contact the bank or service provider, either in person or by telephone, or initiate an e-mail directly to the company or through its Web site. Never click on an embedded link in order to provide personal information.
Information technology staff members continue to work to maintain reliable computing environments for the University by regularly updating software and adding anti-virus and anti-spam patches, but there are not any complete fixes. Staff members should check with information technology representatives for possible solutions.
For more tips on avoiding identity theft, visit http://identityweb.umich.edu. For more information from the Federal Trade Commission on phishing scams, see http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm.
Northwood resident burglarized
A resident of Northwood V on Stone Road reported to DPS Dec. 29 that $200 had been stolen from her purse inside her apartment. Around 8 p.m., the resident heard noises in her living room, but assumed they were made by her husband arriving home. Later she discovered he hadn’t arrived and noticed the money missing. DPS officers searched the area but did not locate any suspects.
Car stolen from Oxford Housing lot, recovered
An Oxford Housing resident reported to DPS Dec. 20 that her vehicle had been stolen from the parking lot and her car key also was missing. The resident had last seen the car around 6 p.m. the previous night when she had loaded it with personal belongings in preparation for her holiday vacation. When she attempted to leave around 10 a.m., she discovered that the car key she had left inside her apartment door and the car were gone.
The car was recovered Dec. 28 by the Detroit Police Department. A 26-year-old Detroit man was arrested for possession of stolen property.
Aggravated assault reported at Northwood
DPS continues to investigate an incident in Northwood III Dec. 5 during which a resident’s friend sustained minor facial injuries when he fought with the resident’s former boyfriend. During the incident, a kitchen knife was brandished but not used to inflict injury.
TRI safe intact
Staff at the Transportation Research Institute on Baxter Road reported Dec. 8 that they observed evidence their wall safe had been tampered with the previous week. While the safe remained intact and unopened, DPS continues to investigate the illegal entry and attempted theft.
