Clemson is seeing an increase in phone text scams targeting specific groups. These phone text messages impersonate someone you know, like President Clements or a Department head, but are typically from an unknown number.
The text messages usually begin by asking for a favor, with an excuse that they are too busy to do the task themselves. It can be a request for information or something like the purchase of gift cards.
Cybercriminals often target specific groups of users and will try to impersonate someone who is known to that group.
Any time you receive a suspicious request, whether it is from a text message, an email or a phone call, it is always a good practice to verify the request. Contact the actual person through a reliable source, such as the Clemson online phonebook, before taking any action.
If you do receive one of these suspicious requests, please report it to the Clemson Office of Information Security at phishing@clemson.edu.
