How to deal with Phishing E-Mails

Acute Threat from Phishing E-Mails

We are currently registering a particularly high number of phishing emails to RWTH email accounts.

The dangerous thing about phishing emails is that the sender and title are forged or logos are misused, which usually makes them appear very “real” and official. The attackers' goal is to get you to disclose data (such as passwords) on fake websites or in fraudulent emails so that they can continue to act with the stolen identities.

As a general rule, RWTH Aachen University never asks you to disclose sensitive data via email!

Identifying Phishing E-Mails

To protect yourself effectively against data theft, look out for the following characteristics:

1. Sender address: Carefully check the sender address behind the display name. Often, this has been slightly altered or contains spelling mistakes.
2. Urgency: Be wary of emails that ask you to take immediate action or threaten to block your account.
3. Links: Hover your mouse over links to display the actual URL. Do not click on suspicious links.
4. Spelling and grammar: Many phishing emails contain spelling and grammar errors.
5. Attachments: Be especially careful when opening attachments in emails. Only click on them if you trust the sender and are expecting these documents.

For more information on dealing with spam, phishing, and other suspicious emails, visit IT Center Help.