Email Scam Description
An email scam that impersonates U-M housing staff aims to induce the recipient to send personal information including U-M ID number to the scammer. The scammer uses a fake U-M email address to appear more legitimate.
How to Protect Yourself
Watch for fake or spoofed email addresses. In this case the scammer uses an address that looks similar to a U-M address, but it ends in @gmail.com instead of @umich.edu.
Do not reply. If you receive a suspicious message that appears to be from someone at U-M, look for signs that the email is fraudulent. Most phishing and scams can be spotted quickly. If you find obvious signs of a scam, delete the email, do not reply to it.
Verify and Contact. If there are no obvious signs of phishing but the email content is suspicious (offers of jobs you have not applied for, or contact from someone you do not know, for example), look up that sender's contact information in the MCommunity directory and email or call them yourself instead of using the reply-to in email or the information provided in the email.
Report Phishing and other Email Abuse. ITS Information Assurance has a process for reporting suspicious, abusive, or scam email. Your reports help us to tailor technical responses and provide warnings and guidance to the U-M community.
If you get caught or are concerned that your have given personal information or payment to someone attempting to scam you:
- File a police report.
- See our Identity Theft page if your personal information was compromised.
- See our Compromised Accounts page if you believe your U-M or other accounts have been compromised.
- See What To Do if You Were Scammed from the FTC for information on what to do if you were scammed out of money or personal information.
Scam Email Text
Hi there, this email serves to confirm that your enrollment deposit has been received and that you have been sent a link to the Michigan Housing application. If so, we can start processing your room assignment and housing enrollment.
If you have received a link to the housing application form, please respond to this email with your name, U-M ID, preferred residence hall, and, if you have a roommate request, their name and U-M email is required.
With this information, we will be able to direct you to the relevant hall director of your chosen residential hall. The hall director, who will assist you in completing and submitting your housing application, will send you an email.
Please let us know in your response if you have not yet gotten a link to the Housing Application form in addition to the previously required information so that we may look into and address your concerns.
Finally, congratulations on your admission to the University of Michigan.We look forward to your prompt reply to this email.
Regards.