Online Scams and Phishing Awareness – Gift Card Giveaway

Online scams are on the rise. Help protect yourself and others by watching out for emails asking you to purchase a gift card. No one, including school administrators, will ever ask you urgently over email to purchase a gift card for them. If this does happen, verify the request in person. A lot of scams and phishing happens over email. Here are some things you can look out for:

• Verify Sender’s Email: Always double-check the sender’s email address. If it looks suspicious or unfamiliar, exercise caution.
• Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Hover over links before clicking to preview the URL. If it seems unusual or redirects unexpectedly, refrain from clicking.
• Guard Sensitive Information: Be cautious about sharing personal or sensitive info online, especially in response to unexpected requests.

Speaking of Gift Cards…

The Technology Department wants to try something new this school year to increase engagement with these articles. We are going to select one winner each month to receive a $25 Amazon gift card. If you read this article, fill out this Google Form to be entered into the drawing. Yes, we realize the irony of warning about gift card scams and then asking you to click a link to enter to win a gift card. If you don’t feel comfortable clicking the link you may call the Technology office to verify it’s legitimacy or wait to enter next month’s drawing.

• Gift Card Monthly Drawing Form 

Remember, the security of our digital accounts is a shared responsibility. By adopting these practices, you contribute to the overall resilience of our cybersecurity defenses.