Technology Services would like to advise campus community members to remain vigilant for scams related to COVID-19. Cyber criminals are taking advantage of the fear and uncertainty surrounding this situation. As some faculty and staff may be working remotely, please keep in mind some best practices when doing so as well as the tools available to support your work.

Scams to Beware of Include:

  • Phishing. As remote work and learning continue, there has been a notable increase in phishing attempts due to communication primarily taking place over email. Be vigilant in examining the sender of the email. As always, avoid clicking links or attachments in unsolicited emails and do not reveal personal or financial information over email. 
  • Misinformation. Watch out for emails and social media postings from people claiming to be experts. Use trusted sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) websites, for up-to-date and factual information about COVID-19. Continue to visit pugetsound.edu/coronavirus for all university communications and guidelines about COVID-19. 
  • Fraudulent charities. Verify a charity's authenticity before making donations. Review the Federal Trade Commission's page on how to donate wisely. If someone requests donations via cash, gift card, or wire transfer, do not do it.
  • Fraudulent unemployment claims. The Employment Security Department (ESD) has noted a significant increase in fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits. If you believe a fraudulent claim has been filed under your name, please contact Human Resources immediately and consider taking additional steps outlined on the unemployment resources page.