March 21, 2025
Overdue Fees Phishing Emails on Campus
Posted in: News
College students are being targeted by phishing scams pretending to be about overdue fees. These fake emails try to steal personal information or money. Here鈥檚 what you need to know to stay safe.
How the Scam Works
These phishing emails often:
- Create Panic: Claim you owe a fee or your account will be locked if you don鈥檛 act fast.
- Look Official: Appear to come from your college鈥檚 financial office or library.
- Have Fake Links: Direct you to scam websites that ask for login details or payments.
- Ask for Sensitive Info: Request Social Security numbers, credit card details, or bank info.
Why Students Are Targeted
- Busy Lives: Students may not have time to carefully check emails.
- Frequent Fees: Regular college fees make these scams seem believable.
- Lack of Experience: Many students are new to spotting scams.
Red Flags to Watch For
Look out for these signs of phishing emails:
- Generic Greetings: Emails that say 鈥淒ear Student鈥 instead of your name.
- Urgent Language: Messages like 鈥淧ay now to avoid penalties.鈥
- Weird Links: Hover over links to check if they lead to the official college website.
- Unprofessional Emails: Senders using personal email accounts instead of MSU addresses.
- Unexpected Fees: Claims about fees you weren鈥檛 aware of.
How to Protect Yourself
- Avoid Clicking Links: If you are concerns about overdue fees, please make sure to log into directly. If you have any questions or concerns regarding fees, please contact Red Hawk Central.
- Don鈥檛 Rush: Be cautious with emails demanding quick action.
- Report Scams: Please send any malicious emails you have received to phishfiles@montclair.edu or by clicking the Knowbe4 Phish Alert Button (PAB).