
Warrick County School Corporation in Indiana Issues a Warning to Parents
Here at Townsquare Media, we are required to complete cyber scam training at least once a year. After the training, they test us by sending fake scam emails. If you click on one of their dummy email links, you’re automatically signed up for additional training. They’ve only fooled me once, and I realized it the second I clicked the link. I was in a hurry, checking my hundreds of unread emails after vacation. But that one slip-up could have been devastating for my company if it had come from a real scammer.
Warrick County School Corp Hit with Phishing Scam
My daughter is enrolled at a Warrick County School, and this morning, I received a warning text from the school corporation. They had been hit with a phishing scam, though they assured parents that no student information had been affected.
The warning text read:
[WCSC] URGENT! Do not click on any email links, shared documents, or attachments from Warrick County School Corp employees at this time. WCSC has been the victim of an email phishing scam, and we are currently resolving this issue. Personal student data has NOT been affected.
They followed up with a phone call and the following email:
The Warrick County School Corporation is currently dealing with a phishing scam within its email system. Please do not click on any email links, shared documents, or attachments from any Warrick County School Corporation employee at this time. The corporation is currently resolving the issue. Your help by not clicking any links or opening documents or attachments from a staff email is greatly appreciated. No personal student data has been affected.
As we get further updates on this issue, we will be posting this information on the Warrick County School Corporation website.
Thank you for your time and help with this matter.
READ MORE: Hoosiers Featured on SNL Over the Years
What is a Phishing Scam?
If you’re unfamiliar with phishing scams, they are a type of cybercrime where attackers send emails or text messages to trick victims into clicking a link. These messages are designed to look like they’re from reputable sources like banks and internet providers. Attackers can get very creative with their delivery. I’ve received phishing attempts that appeared to be from toll road companies, police departments, even my employer—and now, I can add a school to the list.
The goal of a phishing scam is to get the victim to click the link and enter personal information, which the attackers then steal and use for malicious purposes like opening new accounts or gaining access to a user's current account.
How to Spot a Phishing Scam
It's kind of a pain to go through phishing training each year but I have learned a great deal, including how to spot a phishing email. The FTC has a comprehensive list of red flags you should look for.
Contact the business in question directly if you receive emails about the following:
- Suspicious activity or log-ins
- Problem with your account
- Ask you to confirm personal information
- A lock or hold on your account
- An invoice you weren't expecting
- Links to make a payment
- Eligibility for a government refund
- Coupons for free items
There are also red flags to look for in the email itself including:
- A generic greeting
- An email address that misspells or adds additional words at the end of the email like accounts.companyname.com
- Misspellings in the email
- Incorrect or pixellated logos
What to Do If You Think It's 'Phishy'
According to the Federal Trade Commission, if you think an email or text is "phishy" you should never respond or click any of the links provided. Look up contact information for the company in question and contact them or pay your bill directly using information from their website.

How to Test Your Knowledge and Report Phishing
If you suspect phishing, report it today to the FTC. You can also take a quick quiz to see if you can spot the scammer.
Indiana & Kentucky's Best, Worst, and Most Creative Snowmen from the Jan Snowstorm
Gallery Credit: ASHLEY SOLLARS
More From My WJLT 105.3





