Should i answer an unknown number?
Call or send an SMS from an unknown number? Here's what to do
You can receive calls from unknown numbers. How to stay safe.
Information Security Office
At the University of Utah, contact tracing plays a key role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 - as are the actions of every student, faculty, and staff member. While this effort is a vital part of our community's response to the coronavirus, criminals can also take advantage of the contact tracing process to gain access to personal information.
To help protect you and your privacy, the Information Security Bureau (ISO) wants to remind you how to handle calls and text messages from unknown numbers, seemingly legitimate numbers that are not part of your contact list, or numbers that have been forged (spoofed). ) - all of which can be smishing (phishing via text messages) or vishing (phishing via phone calls).
To help you distinguish between fraud and legitimate contract tracking activities, we spoke to Page Checketts, head of the contact tracking team at U.
Checketts said her team members follow a very detailed information protocol. If you may have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, they will call you and send you an email to your university email address (e.g. uNID@utah.edu). They may also try to contact you via a text message (SMS). Given concerns about receiving calls from unknown or unrecognized numbers, the contact tracking team will always give you details on how to contact them.
Checketts also noted that one of the biggest problems her team is facing is full voicemail boxes. Emptying your voicemail inbox and replying to her team's messages are two simple ways you can help your college track contacts.
If you are unsure whether a university tracking contact has contacted you and would like to confirm their identity, you can email the contact tracking team at spam report whocalledmeuk.co.uk.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also offers these tips on how to avoid smishing / vishing:
Receive only calls from known numbers. If you answer a call from an unknown number, please hang up immediately.
If you pick up the phone and the caller or the recording asks you to select a button or number to stop answering calls, just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.
Do not answer any questions, especially those with a "yes" or "no" answer. By answering "yes", you are informing robocallers that your phone number is active. They can then sell your number to other telemarketers, which will lead to more unwanted calls. Criminals can also record your responses and use them to impersonate you, such as authorizing a charge on your credit card or account.
Never provide personal information such as account numbers, social security numbers, maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls / SMS or if you have suspicions about the caller / sender.
If you get an inquiry from someone claiming to represent a company or government agency, hang up and call the organization using the phone number from your bank statement, phone book, or website to verify the authenticity of the application. Typically, you will receive a statement in the U.S. Post Office or email prior to a call from a legitimate source, especially if the caller asks for payment.
Be careful if you are forced to disclose personal information.
If you have a voicemail account, set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access when you are calling from your own phone number. A malicious actor can spoof your phone number and gain access to your voicemail if you don't set a password.
Please note that the University of Utah and the University of Utah Health will never ask you for a username or password. If you receive a phone call or text message asking for this information, do not reply and report it to our website whocalledmeuk.co.uk
