Beware the email spammers, scammers and phishers

Published: 3 May 2019

Reminder from Information Services about how to avoid "phishing"

Information Services reminds you to look out for fake emails designed to trick you into revealing your password, or other confidential information. This is known as “phishing”.

The scammers could steal your access to University data, your personal details and in some cases, your money. These emails often look genuine, and may have sender details constructed to look like the message was sent by an organisation or person you'd expect to receive correspondence from e.g. a senior member of the University, College or School.

In most cases, the email tells you to click on a link taking you to a plausible-looking but fake website, where you are then asked to enter your password or other details. Another current theme involves fake emails making a plea for help asking for money, or equivalently, the purchase of online gift cards. In some cases, the message may even appear to be a reply to existing correspondence including the subject line.

Some easy steps to protect yourself

Treat EVERY unsolicited or unexpected email with suspicion, even if it looks like it came from someone you trust.

Don’t click on links, buttons, or open attachments in unexpected email.

If a link in an email takes you to a log-in page, even if it looks similar to a page you normally use, DO NOT LOG IN. Instead use any one of these safe methods:

  • Go to MyGlasgow and find to the real log-in page from there
  • Use a desktop icon: every standard staff desktop PC or student cluster computer has a link to MyGlasgow on the desktop
  • Use a bookmark you saved earlier
  • Carefully type the URL address by hand

Always err on the side of caution. If in doubt whether an email is genuine, please contact the IT Helpdesk.

If you might have entered your password after clicking a link in a suspect email, you MUST change your password immediately. To change your GUID password, use the "Change or reset password" link on the MyGlasgow Student/Staff homepage (just below the login link). You can get to this page from the footer of any University web page.

New Course

To learn more about how to keep your data safe, how to avoid phishing attacks and the other threats we all now face, the UofG Information Security online course is available now. To access the course, log in to the MyGlasgow Staff Portal and follow the “Information Security Awareness” link in the box at the top.

First published: 3 May 2019

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