Be wary of text messages claiming to be deans, VPs, or even a manager within your department.
“Smishing” — a portmanteau for SMS phishing — attacks work similarly to phishing emails, and target users through text messages. The goal is to lure victims into sharing personal or financial information, clicking on malicious links, or downloading harmful software or applications.
Remember:
- Leadership typically communicates through official channels, such as email.
- Be wary of messages from senders you do not know.
- Investigate the message before responding. Are you likely to receive a personal message from someone in leadership, especially if they make an unusual request? If you think a message could be legitimate, verify with someone in your department before you take action.
You can report suspicious text messages via your device.
Smishing can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Internet Crime Complaint Center.