Anti-Phishing

Access the below link for the Phishing Scam Simply Speaking video.

https://thesmu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=a2abd792-5e59-477f-a52f-acbb0177de73&start=6.947708

🔐 Remember:

• NEVER share your password, verification codes, or approve MFA prompts at the request of anyone claiming to be from SMU IT.
• The SMU IT Service Desk will NEVER ask for your credentials or MFA approval under any circumstances.

⚠️ What to do if you’re unsure:

• Pause before clicking on any email links or opening attachments—especially if the message seems unusual or urgent.
• If something feels off, do not engage and report the message.

🚨 If you suspect your account may be compromised:

1. Reset your password immediately.
2. Contact the SMU IT Service Desk at 510-907-2555 (Option 1) for support and guidance.

Below are some quick tips on how to deal with Phishing Scams 

Phishing Tips

Phishing Tip 1

On Outlook client, select the white shield with a red outline and red ! in the middle, and Select one of the two options showing.
This should be on the Ribbon along the top left as seen here:

Options:

The OLD version of Outlook icon is labeled Phish Alert Report. Highlight intended email then select the Phish Alert Report icon to submit  

Phishing Tip 2

Block “junk” or spam email senders to reduce email clutter.

How to Block email senders:

1. Open Outlook.
2. Select the email you want to block.
3. Click “Junk” on the Outlook toolbar.
4. Select “Block Sender” from the drop down menu to add the sender’s name to your personal block list. Emails from the sender will now be automatically moved to your “Junk” folder.
5. Over time your “Junk Mail” folder will fill up. To empty the “Junk Mail” folder, just right click the folder and select “Empty folder.”

Phishing Tip 3

Automatically move external e.g. non-Samuel Merritt generated emails to a folder. This allows you to separate internal from external emails and reduce the likelihood of clicking on a malicious link or attachment.

How to setup an External folder:

1. Open Outlook and select “Rules” on the menu bar at the top of Outlook.
2. Select the small triangle, then “Manage Rules & Alerts”
3. Select “New Rule…”
4. Select “Move messages with specific words in the subject to a folder”
   Click the “Next” button
5. In the “Rules Wizard” select “with specific words in the subject”.
   Then click on “specific words” in Step 2 on the lower half of the box.
6. In the “Search Text” dialog box “Specify words or phrases to search for in the subject:” type [***External***].
   Then click the “Add” button.
7. You should see “[***External***]” in the “Search List”. Click “OK”.
8. Now click “specified” folder.
9. You can chose and existing folder or a new one. To select a new folder, click the “New” button.
10. Give the new folder a distinctive name like “***External*** Mail”
    Note: using asteriks will list the folder at the top of the list of folders it is nested in.
    Click “OK”.
11. You should now have [***External***] as the specific words in the subject, and ***External*** Mail in the move to…folder.
    Click “Next”.
12. You can click “Next”, unless you want to edit something.
13. If there are specific email addresses you KNOW are good, you can add them by selecting “except from people or public group” and adding them. Be very cautious about using this.
14. Give the Rule a name, like “***External***” that will help you understand what the rule does.
    Optional: You can have the rule run now on your inbox by selecting “Run this rule now on messages already in “Inbox””.
    Click “Finish”.
15. Here is your new Rule!
    Click “OK”.
16. Done!

Now that you have the ***External*** emails in a separate folder, you can review those when you have a bit more time to think carefully about them. And remember: “Be paranoid, because the bad actors are really after confidential information”.