Hello UMBC Community,

In the digital world, Phishing is one of the most used forms of cyber trickery where attackers impersonate trusted sources to deceive you into handing over credentials or personal information. These attacks come in various forms. Learning about them will help you not fall victim to those emails.

Phishing attacks are emails that may look like important messages but are actually crafted by cyber criminals. The good news? With the right knowledge, you can foil their tricks and keep yourself and UMBC safe. These are some tips on how you can recognize phishing emails:

1. Requests for Your Password: UMBC will never ask for your password. Never submit your password on Google forms or Monday.com forms. Your password is for your eyes only!

2. Unexpected Calendar Invitations: Watch out for calendar invites from unknown senders. Delete them and never click suspicious links inside.

3. Fraudulent Offers: Be wary of unsolicited offers for gift cards or jobs that are too promising. Do not send your personal or financial information to anyone who requests it over email or text. Real job postings are on Handshake only!

4. Unexpected Attachments or Links: Did someone send you a weird file or link you weren't expecting? Is a link in an email suspiciously short or strange-looking? If it feels off, don't click or download it.

5. A Sense of Urgency: Phishing emails often try to rush you into action, like claiming your account will be "deactivated" if you don't click a link immediately. Always be suspicious of urgent, high-pressure requests.

6. Poor Grammar and Spelling: While not always a giveaway, many phishing emails contain noticeable spelling errors or awkward phrasing.

What to do if you get a suspicious email:

If you suspect an email is a phishing attempt, do not reply, click any links, or open any attachments. Instead, forward the email immediately to the security team at security@umbc.edu. Your report helps protect everyone!

Stay vigilant, and together we can keep our digital environment safe.

Catch a "Fish"!

Have you ever wondered what a provost does? Do you have a question about the state of higher education or the Eredivisie (Dutch football's top division)?

Drop in and join us for a warm beverage and a snack and meet Provost Manfred van Dulmen.

This is a great opportunity to connect, share ideas, ask questions, or simply enjoy some conversation over coffee and light refreshments.

Thursday, October 9
10-11 a.m.
Information Technology / Engineering 456

No RSVP required and all are welcome.

Stop by, grab a cup, and say hello!

Are you or someone you know considering studying abroad? Hop Education Abroad, in partnership with UMBC, is offering a one-time $5,000 scholarship for the Spring 2026 semester at the University of Pécs in Hungary.

This scholarship brings the cost of a full-semester program in Europe down significantly, making it one of the most affordable options currently available.

If you're on the fence about studying abroad or still deciding between programs, this could be the opportunity that makes it possible. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 15.

Questions? Ready to apply? Please contact us at educationabroad@umbc.edu!

The 2025 Waves of Change (WOC) STEM conference, hosted by Career Communications Group, Inc., is taking place October 23- 25 at the Baltimore Convention Center with options to participate either in-person or online. The conference features a career fair (Saturday, October 25) where top national and local companies in the STEM fields are actively recruiting STEM interns and professionals in addition to career workshops, and leadership and professional development programs.

You will need to register to participate. Open to ALL students! 

·       The job fair is free! To participate in the online job fair only, go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/woc/2025/job_seekers_registration.cfm. Be sure to check the career readiness workshops that will be held throughout the career fair.

·       To participate in the full conference (in addition to the career fair) go to: https://s4.goeshow.com/ccgroup/woc/2025/student_registration.cfm and select whether you will participate "in-person" (Baltimore, MD) or "online".

There is also an opportunity to participate in the Undergraduate Research Showcase! Are you working on groundbreaking research? Showcase your work by participating in the Undergraduate Research Showcase.  Sign up here as soon as possible as applications are still being accepted.  (ignore any reference to an Oct. 1 deadline - that is being waived).

If you have any questions, please contact Diane Crump-Fogle (crump@umbc.edu) or Chrisi Giannakaris (chrisig@umbc.edu) from the UMBC Career Center.

How to Join the P.A.W. Circle

Special Events and Community