Scammers and the cost of ignorance

E-mails like this are making the rounds again (or maybe these come out all the time and I just happen to notice this one): 

I also received an e-mail similar to this but supposedly from Chase Bank, where I've never had an account.

These must work with percent of those who receive them, despite the bright red warning label place on the message by Google.  The naive, the less-than-brilliant, the ignorant, the technologically fearful, the pathologically trustful all might send in the requested data asked for in e-mails like this.  I don't know specifically who would do this, but I'd bet dollars to donuts, somebody in your district with a Gmail account will comply to this spammer's request.

It was reported last month that Russian hackers have posted something like 5 million Gmail usernames and passwords on the Internet. Google denies any culpability and says only 2% are valid. Might the source of these passwords be scams like the one above? No clue.

Here's the deal: we have to teach adults in our schools as well as kids how to be safe online. This includes everyone who has a school e-mail address including cooks, custodians, educational assistants, paras, clerical staff, and administrators. PD in schools can't just be for the classroom teacher.

Comments

[John Iglar]

Well said, Doug. You are so right: this is essential information for everyone.

At our school, we've built a short online course that includes lessons, videos and a quiz. ALL students, teachers and staff members have to take the course and pass the quiz spotting phishing scams. No exceptions: principals, teachers, students, office staff, maintenance crew, security guards ...everybody with an email address. (If I could figure out how to require all parents to take it, I would!)

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, John. The mandatory course is a great idea. (Would you share?)

Hope things are good in Addis. Great memories of a great school and fascinating city.

Doug