PULLMAN, Wash. – The latest phishing email circulating at Washington State University mimics an email from Walmart regarding a fake shipping order. This is a fraudulent email and should be deleted. Do not click on the links!
How to spot a phishing email
Phishing is the act of attempting to acquire information such as user names, passwords and/or credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
Review and compare the “from” address on emails you find questionable. Do you recognize it and does it match the company or entity referenced in the body of the email? Were you expecting an email? From that particular sender? If not, be suspicious.
Is there a link/URL embedded within the email asking you to click on it? Be wary; it will probably ask you for your login and password or it may download malware onto your computer. When in doubt, a quick response to the message via phone or text could validate it as legitimate or not. It isn’t recommended to reply to the email as you can’t be certain who is on the receiving end.
Phishers are getting very tricky mimicking official organizations; be cautious of any email asking you to click on a link or supply your login and password.
Here’s what to do
If you do not reply to the email, then you are fine; there’s nothing more you need to do. Just delete the email.
However, if you responded to the phishing email and entered your Access ID or Network ID and password or any other personal information, the phishers will have collected that information. The WSU IS Security Office recommends that you immediately change your password and contact the IS Help Desk at 509-335-4357 or helpdesk@wsu.edu.
Never respond
The IS Security Office recommends that you never respond to requests for personal information that may be contained in suspicious emails, voice messages or text messages. It is best to assume any solicitation of personal information employing fraudulent methods is not authentic.
For further assistance, please contact your departmental information technology support staff or the IS Help Desk at 509-335-4357 or helpdesk@wsu.edu