As students returned from Winter Break to school, phishers allegedly hit BHSD with a “sophisticated” phishing attack, according to a pertinent notice from the district.

“We have recently become the victim of a sophisticated phishing attack,” BHSD Director of Communications and Community Relations Shira Good said in a message to BHSD staff and families. “You may have received an email from a Bloomfield Hills Schools staff member, asking you to click on a link or sign a document.  Please do not open the link, view the document, or enter any information.  Delete the email and be cautious about any additional email you may receive with the same or similar subject line.  Bloomfield Hills Schools will never ask you to provide sensitive information via email.  If you are ever unsure of something you have received from us, please do not hesitate to connect with us to verify the authenticity of the email.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.”

Good continued that Bloomfield Hills Schools is “working quickly to contain the situation.”

“It’s a part of the world we now live on. When you have the school district, who has access to thousands of people’s personal information, we are going to be a target. School districts are constantly phished. We are fortunate that we have some really great tech people who are able to cut these things off very quickly. Our district has managed to fight off constant web attacks, that sadly is part of the world in 2017,” BHHS Social Studies Teacher Matthew MacLeod said.

Bloomfield Township — where a majority of BHS’ schools and various buildings reside — defined phishing in a weekly post as “a scam used to trick victims into sending money or giving out personal and financial information.”