Have you received an unsolicited job offer, an unusual request to view a file, or threat to deactivate your account? Cybercriminals send emails with contents like these to deceive students and employees. These scams are known as phishing emails and are designed to take your money, steal login credentials, and cause all types of havoc.
Be Suspicious
Phishing emails and scams come in many forms, but they are all trying to trick you. Please be suspicious of...
- An email from a University leader or colleague that you were not expecting. Even when the email appears to come from a @uconn.edu emails address, you must be cautious. Cybercriminals can imitate UConn email accounts.
- An e-mail that states “Message sent from a system outside of UConn,” but it looks like it’s from an @uconn.edu email account.
- A random job offer.
- A request for you to deposit a check on behalf of the “employer.”
- A request for you to share your information.
- A requirement that you contact the “employer” to continue the “hiring” process over text or phone.
- A requirement that you contact the sender from a personal email address.
- A request to click on a form and enter a password or pass key.
Don’t Engage
When are suspicious of a message, do not interact with it:
- Do not reply, click links, or open attachments.
- Never share your password or enter it on a form. A legitimate University official will never ask to collect your password.
- Do not send money to a company that wants to hire you. A legitimate company will never ask you to pay them.
- Do not accept a Dush Push if you are not logging in to an online system. If you receive one that you haven't initiated, immediately change your account password.
Report it
If you receive an e-mail that you suspect is scam, do not engage with the sender. Instead, click the Report button in Outlook and select phishing.
Think you fell for a phishing scam?
Change your account password immediately if you realize you have given your password to a scammer. NetID passwords can be updated at netid.uconn.edu.
If you have ever engaged with a malicious actor and believe you have been defrauded, please report the matter to the police.
For more information, contact: Technology Support Center at techsupport.uconn.edu