Keep an eye out for phishing emails

It’s always phishing season, but with the return to classes, our campus community often sees an increase in phishing messages.

Key things to look for to protect your computer:

  • The sender’s email address is unexpected, or the style of communications is abnormal. For example, your manager emailing you asking for your cell phone number or to buy gift cards.
  • A generic greeting is used rather than one that is more personalized and includes your name.
  • The message includes poor grammar and misspellings.
  • There is a need for an urgent action in the message.
  • The message asks you to use a non-university email account, such as @gmail.com or @yahoo.com, or includes a text message to you directly.
  • Any requests to purchase gift cards.
  • Any job offers that mail you checks to cash and send the money back.

What to know:

  • University policy does not allow the purchase of gift cards.
  • If you cash a fake check for a fake job, the bank will pull the funds from your personal account.
  • If it’s too good to be true, it is!

What to do:

What not to send via email

Help protect the Wichita State community by knowing what information not to share via email. Email communication outside of WSU is not guaranteed to be secure since those emails may not be encrypted. Depending on the type of data, regulatory compliance requirements could require additional protection before it is emailed.

Examples of information that should not be emailed are:

  • Social security number
  • Driver’s license number or state ID number
  • Passport number or alien registration number
  • Personal financial account numbers
  • Medical information
  • Date of birth
  • Mother’s maiden name
  • Non-onetime passwords or any authentication credentials
  • Credit card numbers

For more information, contact askinfosec@wichita.edu or view WSU’s Acceptable Use Policy 19.01.