Students and staff at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School got a real life cybersecurity lesson this school year. Hackers infiltrated the e-mail system with a phishing scam. It started with a teacher who unknowingly shared personal information with senders of a fake e-mail. The scammers then used that information to send fraudulent “internship opportunity” messages to student accounts. Some unsuspecting students also shared their personal information which put them at risk for identity theft and account breaches.

According to Bishop Manogue IT Specialist, Peter Walstrum the situation could have been avoided with more caution. “Students have to be vigilant about what information they put out there and be cautious of what could be potential scams, which could negatively impact the whole school,” Walstrum said. When it comes to phishing scams, it is important to always be cautious with all unsolicited emails and texts. If you are unsure about the sender of an email, you should contact the company directly through an official phone number or website. Also, always think before you click on a link and keep your passwords updated.

The school has since taken steps to secure accounts, reset passwords, and remind users to double-check suspicious emails before clicking links or sharing data. Cybersecurity reminders have also been added to advisory announcements to help prevent future cyberattacks. As the digital world continues to evolve, Bishop Manogue hopes this serves as a learning experience for the entire campus.

If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, contact Mr. Walstrum at peter.wallstrum@bishopmanogue.org