Phishing email scams have gotten better at targeting WSU accounts, says WSU students.
“I get phishing emails daily,” WSU student Raeli Turner said.
Subject lines like “ACTION REQUIRED,” “Urgent” and “WSU IMPORTANT OFFER 2026” are used to panic email recipients into clicking.
Phishing relies on urgency for the scam to work. When in doubt, slow down, Information Services Manager Jim Walsborn said. Double-check what is being asked of you, identify the signs of a scam and report it.
In the most recent phishing campaign, Walsborn said about 60 people clicked a phishing link. By giving scammers your information, you are essentially handing them your “digital keys.”
The compromised accounts give scammers the ability to do anything the account owner can do, Walsborn said. They can open files, read emails, redirect financial aid or payroll funds and send out more phishing emails using the account.
“It’s crazy to think that they could be in the background and you wouldn’t know,” Turner said.
WSU Information Technology Services has warned students about giving up personal details. In a system-wide email, ITS said to be wary of pressure tactics, like threats of account deletion or enrollment termination if you do not enter your information.
“I can see how people would get tricked by the subject lines, especially in the middle of a stressful semester,” Turner said.
ITS requests all suspected scam emails be forwarded to [email protected], where they are quarantined. By reporting phishing emails, you can help WSU locate scammers and block attacks, sometimes before they make it to thousands of inboxes.
“I always report the emails, even when I’m not totally sure it’s a scam. It’s better to be safe,” Turner said.
