Computer scam targets students

By Linda Shepard
C & G Staff Writer

ROCHESTER HILLS —  A former Oakland University student has been charged with a felony in connection with threatening graffiti messages.

According to Oakland University Police Chief Samuel Lucido, Tory Dantuma, 21, was arraigned at the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills before Judge Lisa Asadoorian July 23.

Dantuma was charged with making a false report or threat of terrorism, a felony. “He turned himself in through a prearranged agreement,” Lucido said. The charge involves a  threatening message found in a restroom in the Van Wagoner House dorm April 15.

Bond was set at $1 million. At press time, Dantuma’s attorney, Jeff Quas, had not returned phone calls.

Lucido said campus police are still investigating separate threatening messages found April 12 on walls in men’s restrooms in O’Dowd Hall, the Kresge Library and the Oakland Center. Police are asking those with information to contact them at (248) 370-3331.

All the graffiti messages were interpreted as being somewhat disturbing, but they were quite vague and contained no specific threat, Lucido said. April marked the anniversary of the April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech shooting spree, which left 33 dead and is regarded as the deadliest school shooting rampage in United States history.

In an unrelated incident, Oakland University students have recently been targeted in a “phishing” computer scam, Lucido said.

Students are reporting receipt of an e-mail appearing to be from the campus Office of Student Affairs, with the subject line stating the message is the “2008 OU Student Survey.” The e-mail directs recipients to an official-looking survey Web site complete with the OU logo, Lucido said.

The e-mail states, “Currently we are conducting a survey of current and former students as well as OU alumni which covers a variety of important topics and will allow the university administration and staff to make educated and relevant decisions concerning our students.”

It offers a chance to win an iPod and gas cards as prizes for completing the survey, and it is signed “Office of Student Affairs, Oakland University.” Those who receive the e-mail are advised to delete it immediately.

Essentially, phishing e-mails mimic contact from trusted organizations, attempting to steal personal information, Lucido said. More sophisticated phishing scams, like the one circulating at OU, also copy a Web page from that organization.

“These advanced phishing techniques prey on people’s familiarity and comfort level with institutions like Oakland University,” said Terrie Rowe, OU chief information officer. “Unfortunately, online scams are becoming more and more advanced, and people must begin to apply a higher level of scrutiny to each e-mail they receive.”

Students with questions about the scams are asked to call (248) 370-4347 or e-mail hepdesk@oakland.edu.

You can reach Staff Writer Linda Shepard at lshepard@candgnews.com or at  (586) 498-1065.