Recent Samples of Phishing Emails

Payroll Scam Email

Image shows a payroll phishing email that points to the name (UH) and the email address (hinesj1@southernct.edu) of the sender. Near the pointers, it says "Name (UH) can easily be altered. Look closely at their email address." Bottom-left corner pointer says, “There are several indicators that this is a phishing email: no personalization for the receiver, a simple link, and no logo or signature from the sender.”.

This image is the same payroll phishing email shown above. It shows that when you hover your mouse over the link in the body of the email, a pop-up will appear showing where the URL will take you. There is a pointer saying, “Hover over the link with your mouse to see the URL.” Another pointer shows the actual URL and says, “The URL will take you to soundestlink.com, not UH Payroll.”

Phishing Emails coming from senior UH leadership

From: ████████ <████████ @gmail.com>>
Subject: Riembursement
Date: August 16, 2024 at 9:11:20 AM HST
To: d████████@gmail.com>>

Hi D█████

I trust this message finds you well. Just a quick heads-up: I’m currently out of the office with limited phone access. Could you possibly manage an Operating Expense for us?

R█████ ████████ is tied up at the moment, so if you’re able to handle the payment via Zelle/paypal, please let me know. Once confirmed, I’ll promptly share the vendors payment details. Rest assured, your repayment will be processed once our treasurer is back in the loop.

Best regards,
T█████ ████████

Sender was real UH person (Executive Director), the email was also sent from gmail.com, not hawaii.edu.

Another Sample

From: David Lassner < executivecommittee5228@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Aug 14. 2024, 9:02 AM
Subject: Core task
To: <b█████ @hawaii.edu>

B██████, could you spare some time? I’m about to attend a meeting with few communication options. So just reply by email.

David Lassner

Impersonating the UH President with a gmail.com address and not hawaii.edu. The recipient is a real UH faculty member.
 

Job Scam Email

From: ████████ <████████ @hawaii.edu>

Date: Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Subject: STUDENTS INTERN
To:

Aloha! Student of UH.

I hope this message finds you well! I am reaching out to you with an exciting job availability as a Research Assistant at the University Of Hawaii. We are thrilled to present you with a unique Possibility to enhance your skills and gain valuable experience through our internship program.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
– Collaborate with esteemed faculty and staff members on various research projects.
– Conduct experiments and literature reviews as assigned.
– Actively participate in virtual meetings and maintain regular communication through online platforms.
– Proficiency in utilizing various research tools and software.
– Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational abilities.
– Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
– Strong time management skills to meet project deadlines effectively.

COMPENSATION:
– We are offering a competitive weekly stipend of four hundred dollar(s) (The compensation for this position is 400 weekly, with an average workload of 7 hours weekly). Additionally, we provide flexibility to accommodate your schedule and provides any necessary resources to facilitate your research efforts.
– This Position is available to students of all academic disciplines, nationalities, and citizenship statuses.

If you are interested in this position, kindly send a text to Professor ████████ via text on (917) ████████-2920. Include your school email address for correspondence, your full Alias, current year of study, cell, and department.

Thank you for considering this position, and we look forward to hearing from you!

The Office of Job Placement and Student Services,
University Of Hawaii.

A real UH student’s account was compromised, and their name and email address were used to send these scam emails. The professor’s name is a real faculty member of UH.

Another Sample

From: L██████ <████████ @hawaii.edu>
Date: August 5, 2024 at 1:52:21 PM HST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: INTERN RECRUIT

Dear Esteemed Students of University Of Hawaii.

We are thrilled to inform you about the latest internship openings offered by the Office of Job Placement and Student Services. Our aim is to extend financial support to students facing economic challenges. all while providing them with invaluable research exposure. These internships are accessible for remote work, with a maximum commitment of seven hours per week and adaptable schedules that can be managed from your residence or on-campus. Selected students will receive a compensation of $350 per week.

This remote internship opportunity is open to students from all departments within our institution, and the tasks can be seamlessly completed from the comfort of your own home. However, it’s important to note that the number of available positions is limited, and selection will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are keen on this opportunity, kindly reach out to ████████ ████████ via text at (240) ███-9114 . When requesting more details about the job requirements and application process, please include your full name, email address, department, and current year of study.

We strongly advise submitting your application promptly, as the available slots are limited. We eagerly anticipate your response and extend our best wishes for success in your academic pursuits.

Best Regards.
C/0 ████████ ████████
Title: Professor of Computer Science, University Of Hawaii.

A real UH student’s account was compromised, and their name and email address were used to send these scam emails. The professor’s name is a real faculty member of UH.