Cyber Safe and Secure - XL Edition -- Scams, Privacy & Equifax Breach

Cyber Safe and Secure - XL Edition -- Scams, Privacy & Equifax Breach - 2017-09-15

Millions of students across the United States have started classes over the last couple of weeks. The new school year is an exciting time for students -- for faculty and staff as well.

It’s also an opportunity for hackers, identity thieves, and other unscrupulous types who take advantage of people during this busy time of year.

Watch out for typical beginning-of-the-year scams:

  • Email supposedly containing “important information about your NJIT account,” or a “problem with your registration”;
  • Scams specifically designed to cheat students out of money, such as job scams, scholarship scams, textbook rental or book-buying scams, housing scams and tutoring scams. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • “Tech support” scams where you get a call or email supposedly from “ResLife” or “the Service Desk” or even “Microsoft” or “Apple” telling you there’s a problem with your computer;
  • IRS impersonators demanding that students or their parents wire money immediately to pay a fake "federal student tax";
  • Messages asking to validate or change your login information. No one other than you needs to know your passwords.
  • Fake friend requests;
  • Fake Dropbox or Google Doc notices;
  • Email containing fake Invoices or FedEx/UPS notices;

And the list goes on…

The start of the school year is also a great time to think about your online presence. What you post online can live forever, and you can’t fully control who sees it. To better control your online presence:

Keep What’s Private Private.

Choose your privacy and security settings wisely; don’t use defaults;
Be mindful of what you share on social media, that information could be used to steal your identity or to answer your password reset questions;
If you wouldn't want your employer, landlord, professors, or grand parents to see it, don’t post it;
Don’t share info or pictures about others that you wouldn't share about yourself;

Equifax Breach

On Sept. 7, Equifax Inc. announced a breach of data impacting about 143 million U.S. customers. The information affected includes names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and some driver’s license numbers. For additional information on the Equifax breach and how to protect yourself visit. (https://ist.njit.edu/cyber-safe-and-secure- news/#equifax)


Cyber security is our shared responsibility always STOP, THINK before you click or respond to any type of electronic communication.