UCM Public Safety Shares Essential Tips to Recognize and Prevent Scams

 

With a new academic year underway at the University of Central Missouri (UCM), students and their families are encouraged to be alert and take precautionary measures to protect themselves from potential scams.

UCM Department of Public Safety officials said scams can affect any demographic and happen year-round, noting there is usually an increase during back-to-school season. 

Phishing emails

Phishing emails are increasingly common. Scammers send emails that appear to be from reputable sources to trick victims into providing personal information or clicking on malicious links. 

Chief Bill Brinkley, UCM Director of Public Safety, said the department has encountered emails impersonating UCM offices such as the Office of the Registrar and Student Records asking students to click a link so they aren’t dropped from classes. He reminded students that in-person classes are confirmed via attendance, while online courses are confirmed using steps outlined by the instructor. The registrar’s office does email students, but UCM offices will never request login credentials, personal information, or banking details via email.

“If an email or link doesn't look legitimate, then don't even click on anything, don't open it,” Brinkley said. “If it says it's from a particular UCM office and you don't think it is, then call that office and see if it is from them.”

Scammers also threaten to reveal sensitive personal information or photos unless the victim pays them. Anyone receiving these messages should not engage with the sender or send money. Report such threats to local authorities and any online platform relevant to the incident.

Impersonating authorities

Scammers may also impersonate law enforcement or other government agencies, such as the IRS, claiming the victim has a warrant or owes taxes. Many will seek payment over the phone, sometimes asking for credit card information or the serial numbers on gift cards.

Brinkley reminds the public that legitimate authorities will not try to resolve warrants over the phone or request gift cards to clear an outstanding tax payment. If you are unsure, contact the agency directly to verify any claims.

Phishing emails can also come in the form of fake job offers. The unsolicited emails ask recipients to enter their personal information in exchange for a job offer and may ask the victim to pay a processing fee. When in doubt, verify job offers by contacting the company directly and be aware that any job asking for upfront payment is most likely fraudulent.

At UCM, all on-campus employment opportunities are posted at jobs.ucmo.edu. Off-campus employment opportunities available through the Career and Life Design Center that have been vetted will come from Handshake. 

Keeping personal info safe

Public Safety also warned against sharing personal information on unsecured websites or with unknown individuals in any scenario, whether it’s a potential job offer or related to your academic studies at UCM. 

“Law enforcement and legitimate organizations will not ask for money or personal information through unsolicited calls or emails,” Brinkley said. “Go to employers directly to determine if it's real, or use protected and trusted websites to apply for those jobs.”

Most organizations and their representatives will use official email addresses and legitimate websites, so check the sender’s email address and any hyperlinks before sharing information or clicking on something. Clicking on a suspicious link could lead to ransomware or viruses infecting your computer, tablet or smartphone.

The UCM Office of Technology recently implemented multi-factor authentication to provide a second layer of security to any type of login. UCM uses the Duo app for this process, which enhances the security of your account by using a secondary device, in addition to your password, to verify your identity. Once students, faculty and staff download the Duo app, they should not share their Duo code with anyone. The UCM Office of Technology and other departments will never ask for your Duo code and will never contact you via text message to validate your UCM email.

Some other key tips include: 

• Keep personal information private and secure. 

• Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts and change them regularly. 

• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible for an extra layer of security.

• Regularly check your banking information to ensure no unauthorized changes have been made.

• If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Students, faculty and staff can contact the Office of Technology with questions or concerns. Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of an attempted scam on campus is encouraged to contact the UCM Department of Public Safety. 

To reach the UCM Technology Support Center, visit ucmo.edu/tsc, email tsc@ucmo.edu or call 660-543-4357. To reach UCM Public Safety, visit ucmo.edu/ps or call 660-543-4123.