Beware of Phishing
Phishing involves using email and websites to trick you into revealing sensitive information, like your password, or infecting your computer with malware. For instance, the email may state that one of your bank accounts needs attention, or that you must take immediate action to avoid a fine.
Ross IT is here to help:
If you have any questions or receive an email that you are unsure of, please contact Ross IT at rossitsupport@umich.edu before you do anything with the email.
If you suspect you received a phishing email:
If you think you've received a phishing email, do not reply to it. If you receive one, report it by forwarding the email to ReportPhish@umich.edu then delete it.
If you replied to a phishing email:
If you gave personal information in response to a phishing email or on a suspicious webpage, your account might be compromised.
- Change your UMICH (Weblogin) password and follow the instructions at What to Do if Your Account May Be Compromised.
- Carefully review any online account that became vulnerable as a result of responding to the message.
Frequently, a phishing email includes some of the following components:
An email from an unknown party often written in broken English containing grammatical errors.
The recipient's personal information is noted in the email to add a higher degree of intimidation to the scam. For example, the recipient's user name or password for sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, or other popular services.
The sender accuses the recipient of being involved in different compromising situations.
Times to be especially vigilant for Phishing:
Although phishing attempts occur throughout the year, we see an uptick around the following times:
Tax Season
Holiday Season
Newsworthy events (COVID-19, Natural Disasters, etc.)
Examples of Phishing Emails:
The following emails are examples of phishing attempts, along with their subject lines:
Pension Assistance for University of Michigan Personnel
Umich Release Your Pending Emails
ITS offers additional information on Phishing and Suspicious Emails:
How to identify Phishing emails
Gmail flags suspected Phishing
Last Updated on November 17, 2022
