Recent Email Scams

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Virtually identical phishing scams were sent to campus on February 5th and 26th, 2013:

Please be advised of an EMAIL SCAM from "UCSC <helpdeskservice@vf.vc>" with the subject, "ITS Support Center". See below for a copy of this scam email. This is a phishing scam attempting to trick you into revealing your CruzID password. If you have received this or a similar email, please report it to Google as phishing, then delete it; do not respond.

As a reminder, ITS will never ask you to disclose your password or other personal information via email. You should NEVER disclose your login, password, or other personal information to anyone, even if they say they work for UCSC, ITS, or other campus organizations. If you receive an email message asking for your password, it's a SCAM! Delete the message and do not respond.

If you have a question or responded to this email, please submit an IT Request ticket at itrequest.ucsc.edu or contact the ITS Support Center at help@ucsc.edu, 459-HELP (4357), or in-person at Kerr Hall Room 54.

General cyber security recommendations are available at: http://its.ucsc.edu/security/index.html

A sample of this email scam reads as follows. DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL.

****************

Subject: ITS Support Center
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 01:15:08 GMT
From: UCSC <helpdeskservices@vf.vc>
Reply-To: UCSC <helpdeskservices@vf.vc>
To: (Recipient List Suppressed)


Dear UCSC- Webmail Subscriber,

We are currently carrying out maintenance and upgrade of our UCSC Web service and as a result of this;our E-mail client has been changed and your original password will be reset. please provide us your CruzID:(******) Password(******) for reactivation.

Thanks for using UCSC University Web services

University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
© 2013 The Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.

Email Scam Alert - December 5, 2012

The ITS Support Center has received many reports of an EMAIL SCAM with the subject, "Microsoft Helpdesk Upgrade". See below for a copy of this scam email.

This email is an attempt to trick you into clicking on a link and entering information in order to upgrade your mailbox. This is an attempt to steal your information. Do not click on the link. Do not reply to this email. Just delete it.

This is an excellent reminder not to click on unknown or unsolicited links in email, texts, or online (such as in Facebook or Twitter). Malicious links can compromise your computer or, as in this case, put your information at risk.

If you have clicked on the link in this email, or on links in similar sounding emails, or have a question, please submit an IT Request ticket at itrequest.ucsc.edu or contact the ITS Support Center at help@ucsc.edu, 459-HELP(4357), or in-person at Kerr Hall Room 54.

General cyber security recommendations are available at: http://its.ucsc.edu/security/index.html

A sample of this email scam reads as follows. DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK OR RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL.

****************

From: Olinger, Cathy A <CAOLINGER@capousd.org>
Date: Wed, Dec 5, 2012
Subject: Microsoft Helpdesk Upgrade
To: helpdesk@co.uk


The Microsoft Helpdesk is currently upgrading database server from the old server to the new server Please click the link below and fill all information to upgrade your mailbox now.
<<link omitted>>
Thank You
Microsoft Helpdesk

Email Scam Alert - May 7, 2012

The ITS Support Center has learned of an EMAIL SCAM with the subject, "Banana Slugs' Collaborative Networks". See below for a copy of this scam email.

This email is an attempt to trick you into clicking on a link in order to sign up for an alleged service. Do not click on the link. It does not take you to a UCSC-sponsored or suported service. Do not reply to this email. Just delete it.

This is an excellent reminder not to click on unknown or unsolicited links in email, texts, or online (such as in Facebook or Twitter). Malicious links can compromise your computer or put your information at risk.

If you have clicked on the links in this email, or on links in similar sounding emails, or have a question, please submit an IT Request ticket at itrequest.ucsc.edu or contact the ITS Support Center at help@ucsc.edu, 459-HELP(4357), or in-person at Kerr Hall Room 54.

General cyber security recommendations are available at: http://its.ucsc.edu/security/index.html

A sample of this email scam reads as follows. DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINKS OR RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL.

****************

From: "David Swain" <lcnets@wikinets.org>
Subject: Banana Slugs' Collaborative Networks
Date: May 6, 2012 11:08:31 PM PDT

May 7, 2012

Dear Banana Slugs,

We are now ready for sign up at <<limk omitted>>. Please join us!

While a social network is for sharing of personal news and events, a collaborative network is for sharing of resources (including data, knowledge and tools) among its members. In the simplest case members can collaborate to create a comprehensive repository of resources. As specific needs arise further collaborations among individual members can spin off more collaborative networks.

With a free membership you are entitled to share, and contribute, resources. More importantly you are entitled to create your own collaborative networks so others can join.

We hope everyone can benefit from this important move, and look forward to serving you!

Sincerely,
David Swain
<email address omitted>
Banana Slugs' Collaborative Networks