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Cybercriminals are targeting campus communities with smishing scams. Smishing, or SMS phishing, involves fake text messages designed to steal personal information or spread malware. With students and staff relying on their phones, campuses are vulnerable to these attacks.

What is Smishing?

Smishing scams use fake text messages to trick people. These texts often pretend to be from trusted sources like university departments, campus groups, or delivery services. The messages create urgency to get you to respond or click a link.

Examples of smishing messages:

• “Your campus account is locked. Click here to fix it.”
• “Update your financial aid details now.”
• “Reschedule your delivery by clicking here.”

Why Campuses Are Targeted

1. High Phone Use: Students and staff are always connected.
2. Trust in Campus Messages: Fake texts pretending to be from the university are convincing.
3. Valuable Data: Hackers want personal and financial information.
4. Low Awareness: Many people don’t know about smishing.

Signs of a Smishing Scam

Look out for:

• Generic Greetings: No mention of your name.
• Urgent Tone: Pressuring you to act fast.
• Weird Links: Links that don’t look legitimate.
• Unsolicited Texts: Unexpected messages asking for info.
• Sensitive Requests: Asking for passwords, 2FA codes, or payment details.

How to Stay Safe

1. Don’t Click Links: Verify messages by contacting the sender directly.
2. Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Protect your accounts with extra security.
   • Faculty/Staff: Duo MFA Enrollment & Usage Guide
   • Students: Student Multi Factor Authentication FAQs
3. Block Spam: Use phone settings to block suspicious messages.
4. Learn and Share: Educate yourself and others about smishing.
5. Report Scams: Forward suspicious texts to 7726 (SPAM) and send any screenshots to phishfiles@montclair.edu.

Stay Alert

Smishing is a growing problem for campuses. By staying aware and cautious, students and staff can protect themselves. If you’re unsure about a text, verify it before responding. Together, we can fight back against these scams.

Want To Know More?

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