Beware of Email Scams

Recently, multiple Oberlin community members received a fraudulent email appearing to be from one of our professors. This type of scam, known as "email spoofing," involves forging the sender’s identity to make the email seem legitimate. In this case, the email advertised high-quality musical instruments supposedly available at no cost beyond shipping. It instructed recipients to text an off-campus “private” number to arrange payment and shipping details.

These scams are designed to trick recipients into sending money or providing personal information. If an email seems suspicious—even if it appears to come from someone you know—take a moment to verify its legitimacy before responding. Here are a few steps to help assess whether an email is actual or a potential scam:

Look closely at the sender’s email address. Scammers often use addresses that resemble official ones but contain subtle misspellings or extra characters.

Check for unusual language or requests. Be cautious if an email asks for personal information, payment, or urgent action, especially via an unconventional method like texting an unknown number.

Verify through other channels. If an email seems odd, contact the sender directly using a known phone number or email address—not the one listed in the suspicious email.

Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use enticing offers, such as free or heavily discounted items, to lure victims into responding.

If you receive a suspicious email, please report it immediately by clicking the "Report Phishing" option near the email header, located next to "Report Spam." Reporting these emails helps protect our community from future scams.

For additional assistance, you can contact CIT. Stay vigilant and help keep our digital environment secure.