If you’ve gotten an e-mail saying “update your fau.edu email now” from a site that claims to be “fau.edu,” don’t let this e-mail fool you. You’ll just be falling into the trap of the latest phishing message.

Phishing e-mails are unsolicited messages from various sources claiming to be FAU, or in other cases, claiming to be your bank. In these messages, the scammer asks you to update your information by saying something like, “Please send us your account number by clicking on the link below.”

These e-mails have been flying around inboxes since May and FAU has sent out several warning messages. An unsuspecting recipient may click the link that leads to a login box and try to log in, but this is where the phisher gets your info. After trying to log in, a message might appear and say that this is an incorrect username or password. Just submitting your info once will give that source the key to unlocking your private information such as your social security number, your Z number and where you live.

It’s important to know that any sensitive communication between you and FAU is never through e-mail and usually is the same between you and your bank. So if you have received anything like this, it is crucial that you do not give any information. It is a smart idea to never give any personal data via e-mail no matter whose address it is. You never know who is watching what you send in cyberspace.

If you think you have received one of these phishing messages, but aren’t sure, contact FAU’s Information Resources Management (IRM) and they can help you distinguish the validity of the site or you can manually type in the site’s address into your browser to see if the site really works.

Here is a part of the e-mail FAU officials sent out to warn students and staff about phishing e-mails.