🎣Email Scams and Phishing Examples

🛒Scam #1: "My Coworker is Selling Something!"

❓ What's Happening

You receive an email from a fellow district employee advertising items for sale.

These might include furniture, electronics, vehicles, musical instruments, or other expensive items at surprisingly affordable prices.

The message may explain that the employee is moving, retiring, or needs to sell everything quickly.

⚠️ What's the Scam?

The email may be coming from a coworker's compromised Google account or from someone impersonating them.

The scammer wants you to express interest in an item and continue the conversation through text messages or personal email.

Eventually, they may ask you to send a deposit using Venmo, Zelle, or another payment service to reserve or view the item.

The items may not actually exist.

✅ What Should You Do?

Don't send money or deposits based solely on an unexpected email.
Be suspicious of unusually low prices or requests for immediate payment.
Verify the message directly with your coworker using a trusted contact method, not the contact information provided in the suspicious email.
Report the email to the Technology Department if you suspect it's fraudulent.

💡 Pro Tip: A familiar name or district email address doesn't guarantee that the message is safe. Even legitimate accounts can become compromised.

✅ What Should You Do?

Never enter your district password into a website reached through an unexpected or suspicious email.
Don't assume a message is legitimate because it uses the name of someone in Human Resources or district administration.
Contact the department directly using a known phone number or trusted communication method.
If you've already entered your credentials, contact the Technology Department immediately.

Important: VUSD Technology will never ask you to send your district password through email.

🔐Scam #2: "You Need to Verify Your Employment!"

❓ What's Happening

You receive an email appearing to come from Human Resources, Payroll, or another district employee.

The message claims that you need to verify your employment, update your account, or confirm your information.

It includes a link directing you to a website that asks for your district username and password.

⚠️ What's the Scam?

This is a common phishing technique designed to steal your login credentials.

The website may look like a legitimate Google or district login page, but the information you enter is sent to the scammer.

Once someone obtains your credentials, they may attempt to access your district account, read your email, or send fraudulent messages to other employees.

📞Scam #3: "You Have a New Voicemail!"

❓ What's Happening

You receive an email stating that someone has left you a voicemail.

The message includes a link or button such as:

Listen to Voicemail
Play Message
Retrieve Recording
View Secure Message

When you click the link, you're directed to a website asking you to sign in.

⚠️ What's the Scam?

The scammer is attempting to make you believe that you must enter your district credentials to hear the message.

While our district phone system can send voicemail recordings through email, listening to an attached voicemail recording should not require you to enter your Google username and password on an unfamiliar website.

✅ What Should You Do?

Be cautious of unexpected voicemail emails containing login links.
Don't enter your credentials into an unfamiliar website to listen to a recording.
Check your voicemail using your normal district phone system.
If you're uncertain whether the email is legitimate, contact the Technology Department.

💡 Pro Tip: Be especially cautious when a message asks you to sign in before viewing something that would normally be available directly.

✅ What Should You Do?

Never purchase gift cards based solely on an unexpected email request.
Don't let urgency, secrecy, or someone's job title pressure you into acting.
Contact the person directly using a trusted phone number or in-person conversation.
Report suspicious requests to the Technology Department.

Remember: Even if the email appears to come from your principal, that doesn't guarantee they actually sent it.

🔐Scam #4: "Your Principal Needs Gift Cards!"

❓ What's Happening

You receive an email that appears to come from your principal, supervisor, or another district administrator.

The message may claim that they're dealing with a personal emergency, attending an important meeting, or need assistance purchasing gift cards.

They may ask you to purchase Apple, Amazon, or other gift cards and send them the redemption codes.

⚠️ What's the Scam?

Scammers frequently impersonate people in positions of authority because employees may feel obligated to respond quickly.

Sometimes these messages come from compromised accounts. Other times, the scammer creates a lookalike email address using a familiar name.

Once you purchase the gift cards and send the codes, the scammer can redeem them, and recovering the money can be extremely difficult.

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