Scam Emails In Bloomfield Impersonate School Teachers, Superintendent

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Scammers are sending out “phishing” emails that impersonate the school superintendent and teachers in Bloomfield, district administrators recently announced.

The Bloomfield Public School District issued the following advisory about the scams:

“We want to alert the community to a phishing scam targeting our school community. Actors are sending emails that impersonate teachers and Superintendent Hems, attempting to deceive recipients into providing personal information and clicking malicious links.

“While we have identified several recurring themes in these attacks, such as emails promising a ‘summer bonus’ or claiming that a community member has passed away and offering an inventory of estate-sale items, please remain vigilant. Stammers frequently evolve their stories, so it is best to treat any unexpected request for personal information or urgent financial action with skepticism, regardless of the topic. These messages often manufacture a sense of urgency, using phrases like ‘I need your help right now’ or ‘This is time-sensitive,’ to prompt quick action. Be wary of requests to move the conversation to text or personal email, and always be cautious of links or attachments, as these are common vectors for installing malware or stealing credentials. Our technology team is actively investigating the source of these emails and working to block malicious senders and domains. We have alerted affected staff and are tightening up our own security systems across the district.

“We ask all families, staff, and community members to remain vigilant. You can protect yourself by carefully checking the sender's email address for small differences and being wary of any urgency or secrecy, as legitimate staff will not pressure you to act immediately. Never send gift cards or financial information based on an email request, and always hover over links before clicking to see the destination URL. It is also important to verify requests independently by contacting staff directly, watch for generic greetings that seem unusual, and avoid opening unexpected attachments. If you receive a suspicious email, do not click any links, download attachments, or reply to the sender. Please report it to the IT department or email jkhoury@bloomfield.k12.nj.us. If you believe you have already responded or shared information, please contact us immediately so we can help you take protective steps. We take the security and trust of our school community seriously, and we are committed to resolving this issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and vigilance as we work through this together.

“Thank you for helping keep our community safe. Have a safe and wonderful summer!”

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