November 2023
The Psychology of Scams
As the holiday season ramps up, scammers shift into high gear. They exploit our desire to spread goodwill and cheer to manipulate us out of money or personal information. They exploit our psychology, tapping into emotions like fear, greed and the desire for connection. Understanding their tactics can help us recognize and resist scams this holiday season.
Fear — Scammers may falsely claim your computer has a virus or your Social Security number is "suspended." These scary warnings trigger a fight-or-flight reaction, making it harder to critically assess the message.
Hope — False promises of guaranteed income or lottery winnings exploit our optimism around the holidays. If an offer seems too good to be true, it almost always is.
Cravings —Scammers create fake dating profiles or promise insider investment tips to tap our cravings for love, wealth or status. Stay grounded and remain skeptical when assessing opportunities.
Authority — Pretending to be IRS or bank officials builds on human obedience to authority. Use contact information (phone number or email address) on an organization’s website rather than replying to an email.
Urgency — Tactics like one-day-only offers on hot gifts prevent thoughtful decisions. Take a breath and slow down. Don't be rushed.
Belonging — Scammers exploit isolation by pretending you won a prize or an old friend needs money. Thoroughly investigate and verify the source of these messages.
With caution and skepticism, we can celebrate the spirit of the holidays without falling victim to scammers trying to take advantage of us.
New Resource Available: Adobe Stock for Employees
Do you need eye-catching visuals for a project? Get access to high-quality images, graphics, videos, 3D objects and templates at no cost through Adobe Stock. If you haven’t used Adobe software in the past, you will need to opt-in to access Adobe Stock with your KU Online ID. To use Adobe Stock, follow our Knowledge Base article to claim your license.
KU IT Trivia
Congrats to last month's winners Megan Chitwood and Teresa Hinkle! They correctly answered that the backdoor password in the 1983 film "WarGames" was "Joshua.”
While easy to remember, using a family member's name or any easily guessed word as a password is never a good idea. Always opt for random combinations of letters, numbers and symbols.
This month’s tech trivia question:
What British TV series focused on three members of the IT department at the fictional Reynholm Industries?
Email your answer to kucio@ku.edu by Nov. 10 to enter the drawing. One student and one employee will win a prize! Good luck!
Quick Feedback Improves Teams Meetings
Watch for short surveys after calls and rate your experience with 1-5 stars. Your feedback helps Microsoft enhance the platform and lets KU IT better understand how to optimize collaboration tools campus-wide. Thank you for responding. Your feedback directly improves the Teams meeting experience for all!
Staff Spotlight: Jake Coffman
This month's staff spotlight, we're featuring Deputy Chief Information Security Officer, and goat caretaker, Jake Coffman. Jake has worked in IT for about 17 years, and was drawn to the field by the ever-evolving nature of technology. He enjoys the lifelong learning involved in IT and keeping up with the latest trends and innovations through online communities and news.
Outside of work, Jake enjoys spending time on his 10-acre property where he and his family care for dogs, cats, chickens, a duck named Donald or Daisy (depending on the day) and two goats named Pickle and Dumpling. Though the goats were originally meant to be workers eating brush, Jake says they are now beloved pets.
Jake likes taking on projects around his property, such as tree trimming, controlled burns and installing solar power. He also unwinds by playing video games, embracing his identity as a "huge nerd." At work, Jake is proud of the way IT tools, services and solutions can make a real difference by saving people time and money, and he is passionate about the positive influence technology can have on individuals' lives.
If you run into Jake, inquire about his latest project on the homestead or ask him for gaming recommendations!
Need tech help? Contact the IT Customer Service Center at 785-864-8080 or itcsc@ku.edu. Or, visit our walk-up location in Anschutz Library. Find hours and more on our IT support page.
