What is a Phishing Scam? Email phishing exploits trust using social engineering. It tricks users by:
- Posing as trusted sources.
- Urging the revelation of sensitive details.
- Tempting with malicious links or prompts.
β¨Golden Rule: If an email feels off or too good to be true, trust your instincts.
π« Don’t reply.
π« Don’t click on links or open attachments.
β Always verify the sender’s identity using trusted means.
π§ Received a suspicious email? Report it to privacy@sva.edu.
β οΈ SVA Never Asks For:
- Your login details via email.
- Payments via apps like Zelle or Venmo.
- Copies of bank checks.
How to Spot a Phishing Email:
- Urgent or Threatening Tone: e.g., “Immediate action required!”
- Catchy Subjects or offerings of rewards.
- Spelling/Grammar Errors and strange formatting.
- Requests for Personal Data: e.g., Social Security number.
- Suspicious Addresses: like ITAdmin@sva.edu or Chase@Yahoo.com.
- Generic Greetings: Absence of personal contact details.
- Odd or Shortened URLs: Always hover to check before clicking!
π Example of a Fake Email: An alleged PayPal email with:
- Subject: “Account Closure Notification”.
- Unusual punctuation errors.
- Absent contact info.
- Misleading buttons like “Activate My Account”.
- Authentic-seeming but false information at the bottom.
Be Alert. Be Safe.
Always double-check a site’s URL for security indicators like the lock symbol and “https://” prefix.
