How to recognize phishing attempts, protect yourself, and what to do if you suspect a phishing attempt:
- Recognizing Phishing Attempts
- Urgent or Threatening Language: Messages that claim your account will be locked or you will face
legal action if you don’t respond immediately. - Suspicious Links or Attachments: Emails or texts that contain links or attachments you weren’t
expecting. - Generic Greetings: Messages that use generic greetings like “Dear Customer” instead of your name.
- Requests for Personal Information: Legitimate companies will never ask for sensitive information via
email or text.
- Urgent or Threatening Language: Messages that claim your account will be locked or you will face
- Common Phishing Tactics
- Email Phishing: Scammers send emails that appear to be from reputable companies, asking you to
click on a link or download an attachment. - Spear Phishing: Targeted attacks aimed at specific individuals or organizations, often using personal
information to appear more convincing. - Smishing: Phishing attempts sent via SMS text messages.
- Vishing: Voice phishing, where scammers call you pretending to be from a trusted organization.
- Email Phishing: Scammers send emails that appear to be from reputable companies, asking you to
- How to Protect Yourself
- Don’t Click on Suspicious Links: Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking. If it looks
suspicious, don’t click. - Verify the Source: Always check the sender’s email address or phone number. If something seems
off, contact the sender directly using a verified method. - Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Use different passwords for different accounts and consider using a
password manager. - Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form
of verification. - Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system, browser, and other software to
protect against vulnerabilities.
- Don’t Click on Suspicious Links: Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking. If it looks
- What to Do if You Suspect a Phishing Attack
- Don’t Respond: Do not reply to the message or click on any links.
- Report It: Report the phishing attempt to your campus Information Technology Services by emailing abuse@tntech.edu.
- Delete the Message: Remove the email or text from your inbox to avoid accidentally interacting with it
later. - Monitor Your Accounts: Keep an eye on your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized
transactions.