Phishing

In addition to reading the following, also check out our help file on chain letters and scams.

You may, or may not, be aware of the term "phishing". Essentially it deals with falsely presenting yourself as a legitimate person or business in order to obtain information from someone. This is common in hacking, information theft, and credit card fraud. Sometimes it is done through email, and in other times over the phone.

Tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of phishing:

• If you receive an unexpected e-mail saying your account will be shut down unless you confirm your billing information, do not reply or click any links in the e-mail body.
• Before submitting financial information through a website, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar. It means your information is secure during transmission.
• If you are uncertain about the information, contact the company through an address or telephone number you know to be genuine.
• If you unknowingly supplied personal or financial information, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.

For more information about phishing, visit the OSU Safe Computing website.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Service Desk.