As the new academic year begins, the University of Delaware is seeing an increase in phishing attempts targeting members of the UD community, particularly students. These fraudulent messages may appear to come from someone you know or a trusted organization and may ask you to click a link, open an attachment, provide your credentials or sensitive information, or take urgent action.

How to stay vigilant

Before clicking a link or responding to an unexpected message:

• Pause and think. Be cautious of messages that create a sense of urgency or pressure you to act quickly.
• Check the sender. Look at the full email address, not just the display name. If a message seems suspicious, verify it through a separate, trusted communication method.
• Be cautious with links and attachments. Hover over links on a computer or tap and hold them on a mobile device to see where they lead. When possible, manually enter the website address in your browser instead.
• Protect sensitive information. Never provide passwords, financial information or other sensitive personal information in response to an email. Verify unusual or urgent requests independently before taking action.

Think you received a phish?

Don't click, respond or provide information. Use the Phish Alert Button in your email client to report the message to UDIT, or forward it to reportaphish@udel.edu.

If you clicked a suspicious link, provided your credentials or believe you may have fallen victim to a phishing attack, contact the IT Support Center immediately at 302-831-6000 or AskIT@udel.edu

When in doubt, stop, verify and report.