A new phishing campaign is targeting University of Alberta, asking people to purchase gift cards with the promise of repayment. The email appears to come from a colleague and begins with a simple hook, such as "Are you available?" However, closer inspection reveals that the email address does not match the person's UAlberta account.
If you or your colleagues receive a suspicious looking email, protect yourselves by following these steps:
-Don't trust the display name: Verify the sender's email address by hovering over the display name and ensuring that the correct UAlberta email address and business card appear.
-Check for spelling mistakes: Phishing emails tend to have a variety of spelling and grammar mistakes that can be an easy clue to their illegitimacy.
-Go straight to the source: Call your colleague directly to confirm if they were in fact the sender before taking any action or making any kind of financial decision.
New Phishing Campaign Targets U of A
19 November 2018