Phishing emails on the rise — here’s what to do

Phishing emails falsely claiming to be sent by UFV employees have been increasing.

What do I need to do?

Do not respond to suspicious email, and report any to phishreport@ufv.ca.

How does the scam work?

This scam targets UFV employees in an attempt to get recipients to purchase gift cards. These emails will start by asking for your personal phone number, or asking you to complete a quick task. Often the email mentions it is urgent, has a high priority, and should be done quickly. When you respond, the attacker will ask you to purchase gift cards. If you receive a text of this nature, do not respond or engage with the sender. You can also block the number (contact your carrier if you need assistance).

How can I check if an email is fraudulent?

– Check the sender (From:) address. In many cases, the scams come from Gmail addresses or other third-party sites. In Outlook, hover over (or click on) the contact name to reveal the full email address.

– Does the email have an external email tag in the subject line and footer? This indicates the email came from outside of UFV.

– Are there spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes? Does the wording and tone sound right?

– Does the email threaten or demand immediate action? If so, it’s likely a scam.

Need more info?

If you need more information about email security, please reach out to cybersecurity@ufv.ca.