Identifying Fake LETU Account Notices

Help with account notices

Many untrustworthy individuals on the internet attempt to use fake account expiration or other notices to trick people into thinking that if they do not respond to an email notice with personal or private information (such as passwords, account numbers, etc) their account will be suspended.

To help students, faculty, and staff identify fake notices, we have provided examples of messages that have been received in the past. You may contact us at https://servicedesk.letu.edu or (903) 233-3500 if you are uncertain as the validity of any account-related message you receive.

As a reminder - during no communication whether via email, phone, or other will LETU ever ask you to provide us with your password. Any individual or message that asks you for your password should be immediately considered fraudulent.

Key:

1. The sender is not an LETU email address, and the subject is overly generic/uninformative
2. The link provided does not direct to a LETU web page. While it looks similar to the link to myLetu, notice that the domain is actually ".webs.com" and not ".letu.edu"
3. The email signature is informal, and does not provide any LETU-related contact information

Also notice:

• Bad spelling and grammar throughout the message
• Accounts with LETU are typically referred to as "Letnet" accounts, and not "letu.edu internet accounts"

Key:

1. The link provided does not direct to a LETU web page. Be wary of links to hosting sites (Google Docs, Dropbox, links to pages that mention "host" or "webhost")
2. The message does not mention LETU, nor does it contain any valid LETU contact information. The subject and signature are overly generic

Also notice:

• Unnecessary capitalization throughout the message
• The message is overly informal, and poorly formatted

Key:

1. The sender is not an LETU email address, and the subject is "clickbait" (overtly sensational and informal)
2. While the server mail.letu.edu is actually LETU's mail server. It is overly generic and out of place in a message about a specific account
3. The email signature is informal, and does not provide specific LETU-related contact information. The typical email signature from the LETU IT helpdesk appears below:
   -- 
   Nathaniel Rosendall
   IT - User Support & Engagement
   LeTourneau University
   Local: (903) 233-3500
   Toll-free: (866) TEC-LETU

Also notice:

• Bad grammar and incoherent message "re login again with your email information"
• The use of a designer font is unlikely to be seen in an official communication from the IT helpdesk