Phishing is a type of online scam where criminals send an email that appears to be from a legitimate company and ask you to provide sensitive information. This is usually done by including a link that will appear to take you to the company’s website to fill in your information – but the website is a clever fake and the information you provide goes straight to the crooks behind the scam.
The term ’phishing’ is a spin on the word fishing, because criminals are dangling a fake ’lure’ (the email that looks legitimate, as well as the website that looks legitimate) hoping users will ’bite’ by providing the information the criminals have requested – such as credit card numbers, account numbers, passwords, usernames, and more.
How do I spot a phishing email?
- The email doesn’t specify your name.
"Dear Customer" or “Dear” isn’t an identifier. If you receive an email like this, there is a very high chance that this is a phishing email.
- The email asks you to confirm personal information.
Keep an eye out for emails requesting you to confirm personal information that you
08/10/2022
Subject: "LOOKING FOR CASUAL WORK?, Trending Jobs... Apply for this REMOTE PART TIME JOB"
This is a phishing message to Alumni and students for a fake remote P/T job as an administrative assistant that requests user to open a .PDF file and then send your name and phone number for an interview. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address. Text body:
Date: Mon, Aug 8, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: LOOKING FOR CASUAL WORK?, Trending Jobs... Apply for this REMOTE PART TIME JOB
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
08/09/2022
Subject: "EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, WORK OFFER"
This is a phishing message for a fake job position through Employment Agency License organization (DHHS) Department of Health and Human Services that requests user to open a .PDF file and then send your name, address, alternate email, age, and mobile number. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address. Text body:
Date: Mon, Aug 8, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY, WORK OFFER
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
07/25/2022
Subject: "2022 Summer Benefit Program"
This is a phishing message for a fake financial assistance to employees and their families that requests user to click on a "2022 Employee Benefits" link to apply. Please DO NOT CLICK on link or input any information that is requested. Text body:
Date: Mon, July 25, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: 2022 Summer Benefit Program
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
07/22/2022
Subject: "EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY"
This is a phishing message for a fake job position through Employment Agency License organization (DHHS) Department of Health and Human Services that requests user to open a .PDF file and then send your name, address, alternate email, age, and mobile number. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address. Text body:
Date: Fri, July 22, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
07/21/2022
Subject: (blank)
This is a phishing message for a fake job position that requests user to send your info. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address. Text body:
Date: Wed, July 21, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject:
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
07/12/2022
Subjects (various): 1) "SURVEY/DRAFT ASSISTANT"
2) “PROJECT AUDIT"
3) “STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM"
4) “ACADEMIC/TASK RESEARCH ANALYSIS"
5) “RESEARCH EVALUATION"
This is a phishing message for a fake research assistant job opportunity offering $350/week that requests user to reply with full name, email address, and years of study and department. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or phone number. Text body:
Date: Mon, July 11, 2022 at 1:32 PM
Subject: Various above
Best Regards
C/O Vladamir Braverman
Title: Professor Electrical Engineering and Computer science,
RICE UNIVERSITY
_______________________________________________________
07/11/2022
Subject: “STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANCE VACANCY"
This is a phishing message for a fake research assistant job opportunity offering $350/week that requests user to reply with full name, email address, and years of study and department. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or phone number. Text body:
Date: Sat, July 9, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: STUDENT RESEARCH ASSISTANCE VACANCY
To: undisclosed-recipients
Best Regards
C/O Genevera Allen
Title: Associate professor Electrical Engineering and Computer science,
RICE UNIVERSITY
_______________________________________________________
06/15/2022
Subject: “JOB OPPORTUNITY"
This is a phishing message for a fake job opportunity that requests user to send your info. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or text to the listed phone number. Text body:
Date: Wed, June 15, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: Job Opportunity
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
06/13/2022
Subjects (various): 1) “Research Assistant Position"
2) “Research Assistant Needed"
3) “Vacancy For A Research Assistant"
4) “Vacancy For A Research"
5) “Vacancy!!!"
This is a phishing message for a fake research project job opportunity that requests user to text full name, email address, and academic year and department to a phone #. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or text to the listed phone number. Text body:
Date: Mon, June 13, 2022 at 1:32 PM
Subject: Various above
Rice University is currently in search of a research assistant responsible for conducting literature searches, data management, obtaining consents, maintaining files, scheduling interviews, maintaining data collection files, assisting with data analysis and generating correspondence, reports and graphics. The following job duties will be carried out remotely with a base pay of $300-$500 per week and the working hours are flexible. Student from any departments of Ru can apply for this position. To apply contact Professor Alan Cox at 650 -947-2680 via text with your full name, email address, year of study, and department to obtain the position description, further application requirements and job interview.
Best Regards.
C/o Professor Alan Cox
Title: Professor of Computer Science Rice University
_______________________________________________________
06/11/2022
Subject: [No subject]
This is a phishing message for an admin job opportunity that requests user to reply with email address and phone #. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address. Text body:
Date: Sat, June 11, 2022 at 2:18 PM
Subject: [No subject]
This position is manageable in terms of time management and stress-free and can also be performed in your free time outside of the school schedule.
Your stance about the position will be very much appreciated and also kindly get back to me with your preferred email address other than your school email and phone number to get the full details about the position. Thanks
Regards,
Tirmont Anne
_______________________________________________________
06/09/2022
Subject: “Data Collection Research"
This is a phishing message for a fake research project job opportunity that requests user to reply with full name, email address, and phone #. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address. Text body:
Date: Thu, June 9, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: Data Collection Research
To: undisclosed-recipients
Full Name:
Cell #:
Alternate email:
Regards
Utpal Dholakia
Professor of Marketing
Jones Graduate School of business
RICE UNIVERSITY
_______________________________________________________
06/06/2022
Subjects (various): 1) “Job for Students"
2) “Remote Position for Students"
3) “Research Application: Rice"
4) “Research Assistant Position"
This is a phishing message for a fake research project job opportunity that requests user to text full name, email address, and academic year and department to a phone #. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or text to the listed phone number. Text body:
Date: Mon, June 6, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: Job for Students
To: undisclosed-recipients
There is a pressing need for student research assistants at Rice University. As part of the research project, each student will receive $350 per week. Students from any department at the university will be able to perform tasks remotely. To receive the job description, text Professor John Mellor-Crummey on (352) 535-0367 stating your information, email address, academic year and department.
He will send you the job description, further information and instructions.
_______________________________________________________
05/24/2022
Subject: “IT SECURITY NOTICE"
This is a phishing message via credential harvesting. It requests user to 'CLICK HERE' on a link to update your email password. Please DO NOT CLICK on link. Text body:
Date: Tue, May 24, 2022 at 2:18 PM
Subject: IT Security Notice
_______________________________________________________
05/23/2022
Subject: “ACCOUNT DE-ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS (Final reminder)"
This is another phishing message warning that user password is expiring and to open an attachment to keep the same password. Please DO NOT DOWNLOAD the file or any other files. Text body:
Date: Mon, May 23, 2022 at 12:37 PM
Subject: ACCOUNT DE-ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS (Final reminder)
To: yourNetID@rice.edu
Dear yourNetID@rice.edu,
Your password expires (today's date). You can use your current password.
Open attachment to keep same password.
-----------
Student
Rice University Class of 2022
Materials Science and NanoEngineering
_______________________________________________________
05/18/2022
Subject: “ACCOUNT DE-ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS (Final reminder)"
This is a phishing message warning that customers who have not updated their email account will no longer be able to log into their rice.edu email and that all data, messages, and files will be permanently deleted. It requests the user to verify their email address to confirm by "Kindly downloading a copy of rice.edu verification form". Please DO NOT DOWNLOAD the file or any other files. Text body:
Date: Wed, May 18, 2022 at 17:44 PM
Subject: ACCOUNT DE-ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS (Final reminder)
To: yourNetID@rice.edu
Starting from May 20, 2022, rice.edu! customer's who have no updated their email account will no longer be able to log into their rice.edu email addresses. and all data, messages and files will be permanently deleted from rice.edu network, due to subsequent verification failure and junk filtering.
Customer's will have to verify their email address to confirm, Once verification is done successfully you will be redirected back to your inbox.
Kindly Download a copy of rice.edu verification form, we apologize for any inconvenience caused.
_______________________________________________________
05/09/2022
Subject: “ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT NEEDED"
This is a phishing message for a fake job opportunity that requests user to send your full name, phone number, and year of study. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or text to the listed phone number. Text body:
Date: Mon, May 9, 2022 at 9:59 AM
Subject: ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT NEEDED
To: undisclosed-recipients
_______________________________________________________
04/07/2022
Subject: “RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY!!"
This is a phishing message for a fake job opportunity that requests user to send resume or cell phone, department or year of study. Please DO NOT REPLY/SEND any personal info to the listed email address or text to the listed phone number. Text body:
Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2022 at 3:36 PM
Subject: RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY!!
To:
Professor Sanjay Pandiri
_______________________________________________________
04/01/2022
Subject: “***UNCHECKED*** RE: <your address>"
This is a phishing message varying in language, containing an attachment to an encrypted .zip file containing an Excel sheet with malware. Do not click on attachment or provide any passwords.
_______________________________________________________
03/07/2022
Subject: "IT Alert: PASSWORD EXPIRED"
This is a phishing message containing a button link to a fake Rice webpage to login with NetID account and password. Do not click on link or enter any credentials.
From: <IT@rice.edu>
Date: Thu, Mar 3, 2022 at 11:09 PM
Subject: IT ALERT : PASSWORD EXPIRED
To: <netID@rice.edu>
|
ID : netID@rice.edu Your email password expires today 3/3/2022 9:09:28 p.m. To keep using same password for netID@rice.edu |
|---|
| (с) 2022 rice.edu Cooperation |
_______________________________________________________
02/23/2022
Subject: "eServices Alert"
This is a phishing message containing a link to login to NetID account to recover messages. Do not click on link or enter any credentials.
---------- Forwarded Message ---------
From: Rice University <kcomer@rice.edu>
Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2022 at 8:23 AM
Subject: eServices Alert.
To: <netid@rice.edu>
Hi netID,
Due to a server error on your e-mail, (netid@rice.edu) (5) incoming messages were delayed.
Log on to your portal to recover your delayed messages
Rice University Message Center
_______________________________________________________
02/21/2022
Subject: “Alert: Your Covid Result"
This is a phishing message containing an attachment to view Covid result. Do not click on attachment.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rice University <krentel@rice.edu>
Date: Mon, Feb 21, 2022 at 9:22 AM
Subject: Alert: Your Covid Result.
To: <netid@rice.edu>
Hi ,
Attached is a copy of your Covid-19 result test.
_______________________________________________________
02/21/2022
Subject: “Alert: Payroll Schedule"
This is a phishing message requesting user to click link to view important payroll notification and enter credentials. Do not click on links or attachments.
Delivery Alert
2/18/2022, 02:54:07 PM
An important payroll notification awaits you.
To view this message please click the View Message button below
View Message
Email Detail Summary
Recipient: <netid@rice.edu>
Subject: Payroll Schedule
_______________________________________________________
02/11/2022
Subject: "UNICEF Part-Time job opportunity with weekly pay of $600.00"
This is a phishing scam that requests user to follow steps in the attached .pdf document that requests for private emails, full name, age, address, and mobile phone number. Please DO NOT SEND any info to the listed email address of fayaz.king@unicfemploymentts.org. Text body:
I am sharing job opportunity information to students/staff who might be interested in a paid UNICEF Part-Time job with a weekly pay of $600.00.
Attached is further information about the employment details.
Kindly follow the steps in the attached document and contact Henrietta H. Fore with your non-official email address I.e. Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, icloud etc.) For more details on the job. Remember to send the email from your "PRIVATE EMAIL" and not your "SCHOOL EMAIL". Responses coming from school emails MIGHT not be considered for further review.
Take note; this is strictly a work-from-home position.
Sincerely,
Fayaz King
Director, Supply Division
fayaz.king@unicfemploymentts.org
_______________________________________________________
02/01/2022
Subject: "EMAIL UPDATE REQUIRED"
This is a phishing scam that requests the user to click on "VALIDATE YOUR ACCOUNT" button. Please DO NOT CLICK on malicious button/link. Text body:
Validate Your Account
Kindly validate your Rice email address to continue using the mail services.
Please click on the button below and validate your account.
Failure to validate your account within the next 48 hours will lead to your account being inactive and
will eventually be disabled.
VALIDATE YOUR ACCOUNT
123 Street Address,
XX City, State Zip
Rice University
_______________________________________________________
Other Scams
If you receive any other kind of scamming or phishing message, please send a ticket to helpdesk@rice.edu.