Reporting IT Security Concerns

These tutorials will help you report all suspicious messages and files, including spam, phishing, and other violations or criminal activity.  See the Frequently Asked Questions at the bottom.

If something is particularly concerning please contact the Highline College ITS Help Desk. We can take steps to help prevent others from falling for phishing attacks.

• Note:  Anytime you report a contact, email, etc., the other person will not be told who reported them.

Choose:

• Outlook
• Gmail
• Google Drive
• OneDrive
• Google Suite – Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms
• Google Sites
• Text Messages – Android
• Text Messages – iPhone

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a form of scamming where criminals make their emails, voicemails, and messages look like they are from legitimate sources (such as Highline, or your bank) to con you.  Check out our guide on Phishing.

How Do I Know if a Message is Dangerous?

The sender tries to bait you into clicking a link, installing an app, calling a number, texting a number, etc. Like other forms of phishing, this can lead to them gaining control of your device, all data on it or connected to it, and can even result in financial loss.

How Do They Have My Number?

Your phone number (associated with your first or full name) could’ve been obtained in a number of ways. This can include: information publicly available, paid service (companies sharing, trading, selling, or disclosing your information), unauthorized disclosure, and data breach.

Should I Block Suspicious Phone Numbers?

Report it, and consider blocking it. Blocking a number may be useful if you get multiple calls from the same number.

Before blocking a number, be aware that spammers, phishers, scammers, etc. can make it look like they are calling from someone else’s phone number (known as spoofing). If you block a number that appears to have called you, you might end up blocking a legitimate phone number that belongs to someone else.

How Can I Keep My Mobile Device Safe?

See our Guide to Best Practices for Mobile Devices for some help.

I fell for it, what do I do?

1. Evaluate what information is exposed.
2. If you account or credentials was exposed or compromised:
   1. Change your passwords (consider using another device if you’re not sure you can trust the one you were using)
   2. If involving your Highline account, notify the ITS Help Desk so they can take steps to help protect your account.
3. You could report the incident as fraud to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).

Questions?

• Please contact the Help Desk.