Spam Alert - Do not respond to emails with the subject of "Urgent Request" or similar suspicious emails

There have been reports from several people who've received spam messages with the subject of "Urgent Request" that you should not reply to or click any links or attachments. These often appear to be coming from a DePauw vice president, president, etc., but if you look closely at the email address one can see that it's bogus. For example, the From:address might be something like "presidentdepauw.edu@yahoo.com," "presidentedu121@gmail.com," "username.depauw.edu@gmail.com, etc. 

Please be on the alert for these emails and pay close attention to the sender's address before taking any action that a message might direct you to take. If the message looks suspicious, it probably is suspicious!

If you have received a suspicious email, we recommend the following:

1. If you have given out financial information, immediately make a report to Public Safety at (765) 658-5555 or police@depauw.edu.

2. Do not respond to or click on any links or attachments. 

3. Select the suspicious email in your mailbox, then click Report spam to remove it from your account and to report it to Google. When you do this, you may be given two option

1. Report spam - Choose this option - CHOOSE OPTION 1.

2. Unsubscribe and report spam - Do NOT choose this option.

4. Change your Google Apps Account password immediately if you replied to a suspicious email or opened an attachment by following the step-by-step instructions at Change password: Google Apps Account (email) on the IT KnowledgeBase.

5. Run a virus scan as a further precaution if you have received a suspicious email. The Securing devices article on the IT KnowledgeBase is the place to go to learn how you can download and run Symantec Endpoint Protection on your computer. Symantec is free to all members of the DePauw campus.

6. Additional information is available on the IT KnowledgeBase at Information Security.

Furthermore, the Secure your Google Apps account article on the IT KnowledgeBase recommends proactive steps you can take to ensure that you are doing everything you can to keep your account and data safe. Please note the section on 2-Step Verification, which is recommended for those who do not regularly use public computers.

Please contact the HelpDesk at HelpDesk@depauw.edu or 765-658-4294 with any questions or concerns.