4-22-2013   Phishing Email: Subject 'USER VERIFICATION'

The campus is experiencing an increase in phishing emails that purports to be from the "UMAIL Web Support" and references suspicious activity from your account.
NEVER click on a link in an e-mail. If you are unsure, expand the email header and forward it to complaint@olemiss.edu.
Remember, IT will NEVER ask you to click a link and verify your email username and password via email.

Example of fraudulent messages received follows:

From: "Various Users" 
Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 9:09 AM
Subject: USER VERIFICATION

Dear UM MAIL User,

We discovered series of illegal attempts on your mail account from different IP locations.

This is for your own safety to avoid your account closed, you will have to verify your account now to UM MAIL security Alert Center to restore your account immediately:.

For quick access:  Click <VERIFY>

Sincerely,
UMAIL  Web- Support.
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4-11-2013  Tax related Phishing Scams

There have been reports of tax related phishing scam emails to campus accounts. Each year these messages peak around April 15'th. Please be aware and do not click the links in these messages or give personal information based on this correspondence! These take many forms and the messages can vary; however, the same good practices of not clicking links in emails and not giving out personal information via an email request are the best defense. Remember also, the "From" part of an email can be forged so using the "From" as verification is not sufficient to ensure any message is legitimate.
Sample Phishing email follows:

From: IRS Online [reminde@irsm.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 3:47 PM
Subject: Final reminder: Notice of Tax Return

04/10/2013

Referance: I3H583326/13

Claim Your Tax Refund Online

Dear Taxpayer,
We identified an error in the calculation of your tax from the last payment, amounting to $ 319.95.
In order for us to return the excess payment, you need to create a e-Refund account after which the funds will be credited to your specified bank account. 

Please click "Get Started" below to claim your refund:

<Get Started>

4-4-2013  Email SCAM indicating a traveler in distress

This is an old email scam that surfaces randomly and purports to be from someone you know. The message indicates there has been some drastic event that requires *you* to send money. DO NOT REPLY to the message. A Sample of the message follows:

From: Someone you likely know

Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 6:20 PM

To: payroll

Subject: Easter Trip.....................................Help!!! "Name of contact"

   I'm sorry i didn't inform you before leaving, Few days back my family and I made an unannounced vacation trip to Makati Philippine. Everything was going fine until last night when we were  mugged on our way back to the  hotel.They Stole all our cash,credit cards and cellphone but thank God we  still have our lives and passports safe. The  hotel manager has been unhelpful to us for reasons i don't know.I'm writing you from a local library.

 I've reported to the police and after writing down some statements that's the last i had from them.i contacted the consulate and all i keep hearing is they will get back to me. Our return flight leaves soon...I need you to help me out with a fast loan to settle our bills here so we can get back home . I'll refund the money as soon as we get back. All i need is $1,750 USD..Let me know what you can do so I can tell you how to get the money to me.

 I owe you alot.

Person's name

No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

Version: 2013.0.3267 / Virus Database: 3161/6206 - Release Date:  03/26/13 Internal Virus Database is out of date.