Some of you have received messages claiming to come from a Joyce Ester asking for gift cards. Please be aware that this is a scam.
These emails are spoofing (pretending to be) someone here at Normandale. The scammers sign up for a free email account that includes the name of the person they are spoofing. Then they go ask other people for gift cards. Please do not provide gift cards to anyone who asks for them through email.
So how do you know it's a scam? Here are some clues to look for:
- Where is the email coming from? Gmail accounts are free and easy to create.
- Never provide any information in response to an email unless you are sure where it's coming from.
- Never provide your username or password.
- Be suspicious of threats of dire consequences if you don't act immediately.
- Be suspicious if you didn't expect the request.
- Be suspicious of vague or generic language, such as "payment issue", to describe a problem with an account or purchase.
- Be suspicious of poor spelling and grammar – many phishing scams originate abroad
If you receive a spam or phishing email, please use the new Office 365 email reporting tool to Report an Email Message.
If you have any questions or issues, please contact the ITS Help Desk by calling (952) 358-8181 or visiting AskUs: ITS.