DESE Warns Missouri Educators About School District Phishing Scam

Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is warning educators across the state about phishing emails targeting school districts and school employees.

According to the agency, the emails are designed to trick recipients into clicking on fraudulent links that request sensitive information. Cybercriminals often use these tactics to gain access to personal data, passwords, or district computer systems.

DESE is advising educators and school staff not to click on any suspicious links contained in the emails and not to provide any personal or confidential information if prompted.

Officials say anyone who receives one of the phishing messages should immediately report it to their school's technology department or information technology staff so appropriate security measures can be taken.

The warning serves as a reminder for school employees to remain cautious when opening unexpected emails and to verify the legitimacy of messages before responding or clicking links.

Cybersecurity experts recommend reporting suspicious emails, avoiding unknown attachments, and using strong passwords to help protect school networks and sensitive information from potential threats.