Virus/Security Information

Be Aware of "Phishing" Scam Seen in Campus Email
First Published 2/08/2005
What is Phishing? Phishing attacks use spoofed e-mails and fraudulent websites to fool recipients into revealing personal information. By using trusted brands of well-known companies such as financial institutions, online retailers, ISPs and credit card companies, phishers attempt to dupe innocent consumers into revealing their personal information. Phishing schemes are often delivered via spam e-mail or pop-up windows.

Who are these Phishers? They are criminals who are trying to steal your personal information in order to use it for their financial gain. This often results in unauthorized credit card charges, ATM transactions, account transfers, or new account creations using YOUR identity!

NEVER reveal personal information to an unverified recipient. This includes:

Login names and passwords
Credit card numbers
PIN numbers
Bank account numbers
Mother's maiden name
Social Security number
Date of birth
Protect yourself from Phishers! Don't get lured in!

Never respond to requests for personal information via e-mail.
If the e-mail looks "phishy" call the company that claims to have sent you the e-mail to verify its authenticity. Look up the phone number on your own and do not trust any numbers supplied by the e-mail without verifying them.
Never trust hyperlinks in e-mails. Visit websites by typing the URL into your address bar.
Review your credit card and bank statements for any unusual transactions. Report them immediately if you find any unauthorized transactions.
Report suspected abuses of your personal information to the proper authorities.
Do not use the same passwords on multiple sites.

UTMB staff is urged to be cautious about releasing any personal information through unsolicited emails.  Reputable companies do not request information in this manner.