Virginia Tech e-mail system users are often harassed by online phishing messages. Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft ("phishing" www.webopedia.com). Private information requested in phishing e-mail messages often includes user names, account passwords, credit card, social security, or bank account numbers.

Do Not Respond!

Although Virginia Tech continually warns e-mail system users about phishing scams, some users are still responding to phishing messages. The University does not monitor e-mail content and cannot determine whether e-mail system users are providing their credentials, but responding to these scams in any way can have a negative effect and is likely to increase the amount of spam received.

Never Share Your PID & Password

Virginia Tech will never request your PID and password. No matter how eloquent, realistic, or grammatically correct a note appears to be, if it requests your password or other personal information, it is fake. Do not respond to any e-mail messages requesting your Virginia Tech PID and password. Anyone who requests this information intends to use it in a malicious manner.

More E-Mail Security Tips

• Never send any passwords of any type via e-mail - don't be part of the problem!
• Change your PID password occasionally
• Don't use your VT PID password as a password for other acccounts, especially if you use your PID as your user/account name.
• Consider using an e-mail alias instead of your PID as your e-mail address. For more information, see Using E-mail Aliases With Your VT Mail Account.