The UCF Information Security Office (InfoSec) continues to receive reports of phishing emails specifically targeting students. These messages offer work from home opportunities, personal assistant positions, or charitable donations. Usually, recipients are asked to respond using their personal email accounts.
Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the current environment and economy to prey upon those who may be in need of financial support. Responding to these phishing emails may result in financial loss.
To help guard against account compromise, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is now available for student email. If InfoSec detects suspicious activities on your email account, MFA may be automatically enabled on your account. To avoid an interruption in access, and to protect yourself and your fellow Knights, you can enroll in MFA by following the steps here: https://ucf.service-now.com/ucfit?id=kb_article&sys_id=949b01b41b5204d026da43f4bd4bcb91 .
Remember, an unsolicited offer of employment may be a scam if it:
- asks you to accept or send money right away;
- offers to send you a check and requests that you wire back a portion of the funds;
- offers large income for minimal work.
UCF InfoSec recommends not responding to unsolicited job offers that fit the criteria above. The old saying still applies: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you receive such an email, report it to the Security Incident Response Team by forwarding it as an attachment to SIRT@ucf.edu.
The Florida Attorney General has issued a Consumer Alert regarding these scams:
http://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/7B49410F1BE3E5278525858A00530934 .
To learn about more steps you can take to protect your accounts, please see https://infosec.ucf.edu/awareness/student-security-guidelines/ .
Thank you,
UCF Information Security Office
infosec@ucf.edu
https://infosec.ucf.edu