Is there suspicious activity on your email account?
You may receive suspicious emails or notifications or phishing scams to your email. These messages often express urgency and contain suspicious hyperlinks or attachments, while arriving from an unknown sender. It’s important to be proactive and take steps to report these messages.
CyberSafe at USPS™ is highlighting key tips and best practices to report phishing attempts. Information security starts with you, so take active measures to protect USPS® information!
When receiving an email from an unknown sender, be cautious when messages include:
n Giveaways, sweepstakes, or special promotional offers (especially near major holidays);
n Offers for free or discounted vacations;
n Solicitations for charity donations; or
n Requests for personal information in response to natural disasters, epidemics, health scares, or major political elections.
These communications may be phishing attempts aimed at stealing your personal or USPS information. Also, check for errors in the email message. Mistakes in grammar or spelling often indicate a phishing attempt.
After identifying a phishing trap, avoid clicking on embedded links or attachments and report the message to the CyberSecurity Operations Center (CSOC). It’s your responsibility to report the message and do your part to keep USPS information safe.
To report a phishing attempt, take the following steps:
1. Prepare to send: While viewing the message, press the “Control,” “Alt,” and “F” keys simultaneously to create a new email with the suspicious message attached.
2. Remember CyberSafe: Type CyberSafe@usps.gov into the “To” line of the new email and hit send to report the email to the CyberSecurity Operations Center.
3. Delete: Delete the suspicious message from your Inbox — do not respond to the sender or forward the message to anyone else.
The CyberSafe at USPS website (https:⁄⁄liteblue.usps.gov⁄cyber) includes additional helpful tips to spot and report phishing scams.
For more information on staying safe online and avoiding phishing attempts, visit the Department of Homeland Security Stop. Think. Connect.™ website at http:⁄⁄www.dhs.gov⁄stopthinkconnect-cyber-tips.
Reporting phishing attempts is a top priority for USPS employees, suppliers, and customers. By reporting phishing emails, you help make the Internet more secure. Information security is our shared responsibility, so stay CyberSafe!
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer and
Digital Solutions, 7-21-16
