Phishing emails are fraudulent messages designed to trick you into sharing passwords, personal information, financial information, or other sensitive data. These messages may appear to come from UW-Superior, a coworker, a supervisor, Microsoft, Okta, or another trusted organization.
Common Signs of a Phishing Email
๐จ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ
Be cautious of messages that pressure you to act immediately. Examples may include warnings that your account will be disabled, your email will be deleted, or you will lose access unless you respond quickly.
๐จ๐ป๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐
Be suspicious of unexpected requests for passwords, verification codes, gift cards, money, banking information, or personal information.
๐ฆ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐
Check the senderโs full email address, not only the display name. A phishing email may use a name you recognize while coming from an unfamiliar or misspelled email address.
๐จ๐ป๐ณ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ถ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ธ๐
Before selecting a link, place your cursor over it to preview the destination. On a mobile device, press and hold the link without opening it. Do not select the link if the destination looks unfamiliar, misspelled, or unrelated to the organization named in the message.
๐จ๐ป๐ฒ๐
๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
Do not open an attachment you were not expecting, especially if the message asks you to enable editing, enable macros, sign in, or provide account information.
๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ๐
Phishing emails may contain unusual wording, poor grammar, inconsistent formatting, or greetings that do not match how the sender normally communicates.
๐จ๐ป๐๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป-๐๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐
Be cautious if an email directs you to sign in through an unfamiliar webpage. UW-Superior will not ask you to send your password by email.
What to Do If You Are Unsure
Do not reply to the message, open attachments, select links, or provide information.
Contact the sender using a trusted phone number or a separate email message to confirm whether the request is legitimate.
If the message appears suspicious, use the ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด option in Outlook.
If you selected a suspicious link, opened an unexpected attachment, entered your password, or approved an unexpected Okta request, contact the Technology Services Help Desk immediately.
If you have any questions, please contact the Technology Services Help Desk.
๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น: helpdesk@uwsuper.edu
๐ฃ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ: 715-394-8300
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Swenson Hall 2100
The Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during summer break and winter break, and 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. when school is in session.