Posted May 11, 2016 by Academic and Institutional Technology
Tags:
Phishing Attempts
Phishing Alert | "URGENT ASSISTANT POSITION"
Some students recently received an email claiming to be a job offer. The email gives some details about the position and asks the student to respond with some personal information if they are interested.
This email is a phishing attempt. Do not provide any information to the sender. Thank you to all who reported this scam.
If you responded to this scam, please contact us at 630.752.4357 (HELP).
Spotting Phishing Attempts
The image above is a screenshot of this phishing attempt. Several things indicate that this email is not what it claims to be:
- The sending email address does not match the name at the bottom of the email
- The subject line is in all caps. While subject lines like this don't always indicate a phishing attempt, it's still a sign to be more cautious than usual
- The email is poorly worded and contains numerous grammatical errors
People are more likely to give up information over time rather than all at once, so fake job scams like this one usually ask for more and more personal information as part of the "hiring process." After the target sends some information, the scammer often asks for photo ID or a Social Security number as proof of identity, or they will ask for banking information in order to "pay" the target. Always research a company or individual thoroughly when you apply for a job, and be wary of unsolicited job offers.
Always exercise caution when responding to emails. If you're not sure whether an email is a phishing attempt or not, contact us or call 630.752.4357 (HELP).