Phishing is a form of social engineering where a scammer pretends to be a trusted person or organization to trick you into sharing information. If successful, scammers can steal data, install malware, or lock systems.
Phishing can be hard to identify, but here are a few signs to be aware of:
- The email was unexpected and from an unknown sender.
- There is a strong tone or emotion (asking you to urgently click a link or respond with personal information).
- The message has poor grammar and generic language.
- They are asking for your password or a multi-factor authentication code.
- UWM will never email you asking you for these items.
If you are ever unsure about an email, please do not click any links and report the email by forwarding it to UWM’s Information Security Office at abuse@uwm.edu.
Upcoming Free Phishing Course
On Oct. 23 from 10-11am there will be a free, online course focused on phishing. This course is designed for both students and staff. It will provide real-world phishing examples, and a staff member from UWM’s Information Security Office will be there to answer any cybersecurity questions you may have.