2008 Woodie Awards
Fraud Emails Invade MuleMail Accounts
Nate Taylor/Muleskinner
Issue date: 10/5/06 Section: News
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One concern for Central Missouri students is unknown fraudulent emails being sent to many MuleMail accounts. The emails tell students to call an international phone number which informs students they have won an award or prize that needs notification to claim it.
"Most students might have opened the email, but I think people knew it was fraudulent," said Nichole Metcalf, freshman, graphic arts technology management major.
One email many students have received has been from Derek Trotter, an artist in England who wants college students to help him sell his artwork to Americans. In the email, Trotter asks students to wire money orders to him.
"This is a classic scam that comes from outside the system and does not go into the spam filter," said Jeff Greene, system coordinator for the Department of Arts and Sciences.
Greene said anyone who knows the MuleMail system can send a message through the sever's name list. By doing this, a person can send one email to many students or faculty by going through the University's name list.
One reason why some emails, such as the Derek Trotter email, get through spam filters is because it has a lot of text in it. This way, the spam filters cannot detect anything wrong because it looks like an ordinary email with text instead of a .JPEG picture that a spam filter can detect as fraudulent.
"We have filters to watch for viruses and email fraud," said Russell Helm, chief information officer. "Although, there will always be a few that will enter into our students and faculty email accounts."
The other email sent to students last week was an award notification from Tinapa Lotta International. This email asked students to give out personal information to receive the award. They ask for the full name, address, nationality, age, occupation, phone number and social security number.
"Students have to be cautious in opening attachments in unknown emails and be smart in the decisions that they make," Helm said.
"Most students might have opened the email, but I think people knew it was fraudulent," said Nichole Metcalf, freshman, graphic arts technology management major.
One email many students have received has been from Derek Trotter, an artist in England who wants college students to help him sell his artwork to Americans. In the email, Trotter asks students to wire money orders to him.
"This is a classic scam that comes from outside the system and does not go into the spam filter," said Jeff Greene, system coordinator for the Department of Arts and Sciences.
Greene said anyone who knows the MuleMail system can send a message through the sever's name list. By doing this, a person can send one email to many students or faculty by going through the University's name list.
One reason why some emails, such as the Derek Trotter email, get through spam filters is because it has a lot of text in it. This way, the spam filters cannot detect anything wrong because it looks like an ordinary email with text instead of a .JPEG picture that a spam filter can detect as fraudulent.
"We have filters to watch for viruses and email fraud," said Russell Helm, chief information officer. "Although, there will always be a few that will enter into our students and faculty email accounts."
The other email sent to students last week was an award notification from Tinapa Lotta International. This email asked students to give out personal information to receive the award. They ask for the full name, address, nationality, age, occupation, phone number and social security number.
"Students have to be cautious in opening attachments in unknown emails and be smart in the decisions that they make," Helm said.
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