As email fraud continues to be a big problem, we are seeing a rash of fraudulent emails containing .zip attachments hitting our email addresses in the district.  There are already many variants from notices that your credit card has been billed, to notice of an airline ticket purchase to even threatening email about you sending malware via email... all are targeted to get you to open an attached .zip file.  We implemented a new quarantine rule in our Symantec email filtering system that replaces the subject line, the body of the text and the zip file itself.  LPS staff can still send .zip files and we can still send them to each other.  But for now, we are stopping all .zip files from outside the district.  Our building tech leaders have received instructions on how to help people outside the district successfully send email attachments that are legitimate .zip files.

Here are some examples of the type of messages that we are now blocking:

Perhaps "Ophelia" should complete that correspondence course on English for Identity Thieves, Hackers and Spammers.  I like this next one... very smooth:

And it's not just email, but these deviants are calling phone numbers with very intimidating messages like this:

The Jury Duty Scam... is when someone calls you and tells you there is a warrant for your arrest and that to address this problem all you need to do is properly identify yourself so they can get the problem cleared up... before the cops show up at your door!  Fear is a great motivator.

So how can you protect yourself?  I may betray my educator training, but knowledge is your best defence.  Here's what I suggest:

1.    Any unsolicited contact via email, phone or the snail mail should be treated with suspicion regardless of the source.  If you get a call or an email telling you that you owe money, money is due to you or that an arrest warrant has been issued for you, and you wonder if the message/call is legitimate... hang up and find the published phone number of the bank, travel agency or government office that supposedly contacted you and inquire.  Never use a number the unsolicited call or message provides you.

2.   Know that email, phone calls and even traditional mail can be easily defrauded so begin from a position of suspicion.  If they contacted you, THEY must satisfactorily identify themselves to YOU, not the other way around.  You will never suffer a penalty by not responding to an email or hanging up the phone to then independently inquire about an issue; so don’t get intimidated into giving thieves your name, SSN or credit card numbers.  Guard these items... no matter who you are, the value of your credit far exceeds the value of your assets so protect your identity even more rigorously than your jewelry or any other precious item you own!

3.   Legitimate companies, banks and the government NEVER send unsolicited emails to contact you about serious issues.  That’s because they know how easily such communications can be defrauded, so don’t be fooled.

4.   Don't even reply to these kinds of email because sometimes, they are just trying to confirm they have your email address right.  Sending them a note telling them to stop sending you a message will only increase your liklihood of getting more messages.  Right click on the Junk Mail and Add them to the Blocked Sender list.

Stay safe out there!