Phishing email alert: don’t take the bait!
As we begin a new semester, be vigilant and avoid engaging with suspicious emails or emails from external (non-UWW) senders unless you know the sender or are expecting the email. They may be phishing scams. We’ve seen many of them circulating lately.
Phishing scams try to get you to click on a corrupted link/attachment or provide personal and financial information. Senders may appear to have a UW-Whitewater account by spoofing a campus email address. Scams often offer a job for substantial money, payment for services, or threaten to terminate your account. They hope to catch you off guard.
Take the time to look at the entire message before responding, and never provide personal information like your phone number or address. Spot phishing attacks using the following tips:
- Is it offering money or work; or asking for your information or help?
- Is the offer too good to be true?
- Does it have a generic greeting or signature?
- Is the message urgent or very important, asking you to act immediately?
- Do you see grammatical errors?
Answering yes indicates the email may be a scam. If you notice anything suspicious at all, do not click! Never give out your personal information, especially to someone you do not know. Do not fill out forms that ask for your username and password. Cybercriminals use this to steal from you, copy your identity, or sell your information to other criminals.
If you see a suspicious email, please attach it and send it to suspiciousemail@uww.edu.
For general cybersecurity training and information, enroll in TechQuest and go to the "Additional Technology Resources module."
Be sure to report all suspected information security incidents, such as lost/stolen devices, emails with high-risk data sent to inappropriate individuals, compromised accounts, security breaches, etc., to the Help Desk.
Contact the Help Desk if you have any questions at helpdesk@uww.edu or 262-472-4357.