We have received several reports of employees being contacted at their schools by phishing scams. Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, credit card details and money, often for malicious reasons, by someone disguising as a trustworthy entity. Common phishing scams include people impersonating as representatives of the Internal Revenue Service, law enforcement or the courts.

One of the most recent scams in Thurston county involves people calling you personally or on your school phone to accuse you of missing jury duty. These callers inevitably demand money to resolve “outstanding debts” or “legal issues” and often demand payment on reloadable gift cards, other prepaid credit cards, or wire transfers. Sometimes, they direct the person who answers the phone to a nearby store or bank to get and send money. A reminder that these are fraudulent calls. Hang up on these fraudulent callers.

Phishing scams can come in all forms, including phone calls, emails, letters and more. If you are ever unsure about the credibility of a call or other communication, you may always contact local law enforcement. You can also block future calls from a particular number on your mobile devices.

For calls of people impersonating the IRS, you may also report the scam to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration website. The website includes a list of scam alerts at the top of the Home page and a link to report fraudulent calls.