The holidays are everyone's favorite time of year - including scammers hoping to find your personal data under their trees. Between flurries of snow and shipping emails, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Computing & Information Technology has a few simple tips to keep your data and your money safe during the shopping season:
Beware scam emails: If you receive an email about shipping delays or asking for more information, it could be a scam. Reach out to the company directly for more information.
Look for secure sites: Look for the https:// at the beginning of the web page or the padlock symbol. These websites take extra steps to keep your data more secure.
Be careful what information you share: Treat your personal data like your money. Shopping websites shouldn't need your date of birth or social security number.
Use secure Wi-Fi: Do not use public wireless to do online shopping or check your bank account. These networks do not always offer the security needed to keep your data safe.
Use your smartphone to pay: Apple Pay and Google Pay use one-time codes to authorize purchases and help you avoid card skimmers.
Avoid phone scams: The IRS or Social Security will never contact you by phone to tell you that you owe money. If you receive a call like this, hang up.
Save the gift cards for your family: Scammers may call you pretending to be the IRS or another institution and demand that you pay fees using gift cards. This is a popular tactic with scammers, but don't be fooled; legitimate organizations will never demand payment for fees using gift cards! Here are some tips for how to respond if you fall victim to a scam:
Report the email: Forward the suspicious email to abuse@wayne.edu so that C&IT can block the sender.
Delete the message: Looking at the message will typically not affect your account but clicking links or downloading attachments can be dangerous.
Get help: If you did click on a link or attachment and provide your Wayne State login information, please contact the C&IT Help Desk at 313-577-4357 immediately. If you have given money to a scammer, contact your police department or Wayne State police to file a report as soon as possible.
For more information on cyber security at Wayne State, visit tech.wayne.edu/kb/security.