Answered By: Jennifer Kasch
Last Updated: Apr 17, 2024     Views: 618

Phishing emails are a fraudulent attempt to steal your personal information or to install malware on your device.

If you have clicked a link in a phishing email and shared any personal information such as your username and password or bank information, reset your password immediately and report the phishing email to Technology Services.

Guidelines for identifying and handling suspicious email:

  • If an email looks suspicious, it probably is! 
  • Does it create a sense of urgency or sound too good to be true? 
  • Fraudulent emails may have spelling, grammar or punctuation errors and may try to imitate a business, website or organization.
  • The College will never ask you to give us your network account password.
  • Do not open attachments or click links from suspicious email messages.
  • Do not approve multi-factor authentication (MFA) notifications, texts or calls if you are not trying to log in.
  • Do not enter credentials into sign-in forms that you are not sure about – it could be a clone of the College’s sign-in page. Navigate to College resources and applications directly through the https://students.madisoncollege.edu/ website.
  • Report phishing messages using the Outlook Report Message button. Instructions on how to do so from Technology Services (requires login to view): https://madisoncollege365.sharepoint.com/sites/ile/ts/ITSecurity/SitePages/Report-Phishing.aspx

Protect your personal identity and information

  • Do not send sensitive, personal or confidential information via email. 

  • Do not share any of your usernames and passwords. 

Madison College does not ask for your personal identity information via email and will never request your password.   

Questions? Ask a Librarian at your campus or contact Student Computer Help.

Learn more about phishing and how you can protect your personal identity:

Comments (2)

  1. Thanks, this was helpful!
    by Annie on Oct 20, 2022
  2. Very thorough & concise! Thank you for the checklist style--makes it easier & quicker to grasp.
    by Jamie on Aug 31, 2023