Phishing & Other Scams
- The University community should remain on high alert for any suspicious emails or activity that may compromise our organizational data or employee information.
- Phishing is a form of fraud, in which an attacker tries to learn private information (such as login credentials) by masquerading as a reputable entity or person (usually via email).
- At the U, we use a variety of measures to protect email, including advanced threat protection tools. However, scammers are constantly changing tactics. Being aware of phishing schemes and understanding email best practices can help ensure your email stays safe.
- On Wednesday, October 28, 2020, the University was notified of an imminent cyberthreat that has been made against hospitals and health systems throughout the U.S. The warning came from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The cyberthreat did not specify the University of Miami Health System or South Florida but was considered extremely credible. Although the threat was specifically for hospitals and health systems, anyone on the University network could have been a source of entry to the entire University system. We'll continue to monitor this cyberthreat, and encourage everyone to stay vigilant. There was no impact to the institution.
- Report suspicious emails and phishing attempts through Microsoft's quick and easy "Report Message" tool within Outlook.
- Vishing (a combination of the words "voice" and "phishing") is the fraudulent practice of attempting to steal information or gain unauthorized access to your personal information via a telephone call.
- Take precaution when answering a phone call from an unknown or 1-800 number, or if you see a "help" window pop up in your web browser unexpectedly. These could be technical support scams where a representative is offering to help fix a computer problem or sell you a software license.
