Overview
Phishing scams are sophisticated messages, typically emails, that appear to come from legitimate organizations (i.e. the university, your bank, Amazon, etc.), which are attempting to obtain your personal information (i.e. your password, account number, credit card, etc.). The message may ask you to respond with your personal information or include a link to a fraudulent website. Often, the message conveys a sense of urgency to scare you into responding immediately.
Temple will never ask you for your password, or any personal information, via email.
How to Identify a Phishing Scam
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Does it sound too good to be true? Unexpected messages that offer money, fame, valuable gifts or anything that seems too ridiculous to be real, are better left alone. If you're uncertain, report it by forwarding the email to abuse@temple.edu.
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Is there a sense of urgency? Scammers use threats and urgency to scare you into acting immediately. If you are concerned, always contact the organization directly whether by phone or online. Never reply to a suspicious email.
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Who is the email from? Hover your mouse over the name of the sender in the From column to reveal email address of the sender. While it may appear to come from a person, business or organization you recognize, the email address ending may appear to be suspicious.
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Are there spelling and/or grammar mistakes? While messages are becoming more sophisticated, often scammers misspell words.
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Are the hyperlinks within the email legitimate? Hover your mouse over hyperlinks to reveal the URL. Often the hyperlink will lead to a fraudulent site. To be safe, visit websites directly by opening a new window and typing the URL.
Please visit the "Additional Resources" section below to learn more about how to recognize a phishing scam.
Also, remember you can always check the System Status page, where reported scams will be posted.
Example of a Phishing Scam Message
Example of a phishing attempt sent to members of the Temple University community in August 2018:
In the example above, the "Login here" link does not direct you to a correct log in page (See link highlighted). You can hover over a hyperlink to reveal the URL, which will appear in the bottom left corner of the screen. To be safe, rather than clicking on links that may be fraudulent, always hover over the link to see where it directs to.
How to Report Suspicious Email Messages
We learn about phishing attempts from you and then take action to inform and protect the Temple University community. If you come across a suspicious email, do not click any of the links. Instead, please report the email to Information Technology Services forwarding the suspicious email to abuse@temple.edu.
To learn more about how ITS is protecting the personal information of students, faculty and staff, see our Email Protection Strategies page.
What to Do if You Responded to a Phishing Attack