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Phishing: I think I may have clicked on a Phishing Email
Overview
We’ve seen a rise in phishing attacks targeting university community members. These emails often contain links to fake forms that request personal or account information. If you believe you’ve accidentally submitted information in one of these phishing attempts, don’t panic — follow the steps below immediately.
If You Entered Your Password
If you entered your university username and password into a suspicious website:
- Immediately change your university password. https://it.rivier.edu/PasswordReset
- Contact the IT Help Desk so we can help secure your account.
If you’re unsure whether you submitted your credentials, play it safe and change your password anyway.
If You Entered Sensitive Personal Information
If you submitted information like your Social Security Number (SSN), mother’s maiden name, bank account details, or previous addresses, additional steps are recommended:
- Take Immediate Action
Visit the following trusted government resources for guidance and recovery steps:
- IdentityTheft.gov – Recovery Steps
https://www.identitytheft.gov/recovery-steps - USA.gov – Identity Theft
https://www.usa.gov/identity-theft
- Freeze Your Credit (Strongly Recommended)
Placing a credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus prevents unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name. This is free, and you can “thaw” your credit later when needed.
- Equifax
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/credit-freeze/ - Experian
https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html - TransUnion
https://www.transunion.com/credit-freeze
- Optional: Place a Fraud Alert
If you prefer not to freeze your credit, you may place a fraud alert, which notifies lenders to take extra precautions before opening accounts in your name.
- Equifax:
https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/fraud-alerts/ - Experian:
https://www.experian.com/fraud/center.html - TransUnion:
https://www.transunion.com/fraud-alerts
💬 Need Help?
If you’re unsure what information you submitted or need help taking the next steps, contact the IT Help Desk right away. We’re here to support you.
itsupport@rivier.edu or (603) 897-8469
Related articles
- Main Article: What is PII and How Do I Keep It Secure?
- Alternatives to Sending Unencrypted Email That Contains PII
- Email Support & Email Security (All KB Articles)