ITS Blog

BEWARE: There is a resurgence of student employment scams.

BEWARE: There is a resurgence of student employment scams. REVIEW the ITS PHISH TANK REGULARLY.
THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK.

Currently, Binghamton University is seeing a resurgence of student employment email scams, targeting students. These messages might look realistic and appear to come from HR managers, professors, or varied individuals both on and off campus. These fake messages ask the targeted user to send personal information or fill in forms that ask you to click on and/or open malicious links or attachments. THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK or OPEN ANY EXTERNAL LINKS OR FILES.

For any communication requesting personal information or financial transactions, verify the legitimacy of the sender in as many ways as possible. And let's be realistic! If it sounds too good to be true, more than likely it is false. 

Many of the messages we have seen use email addresses such as user.binghamton.edu@gmail.com or at first glance the scammer’s address can look like a real B-mail address, but it’s actually a standard generic Gmail address. A quick rollover of the address/name will show you the true email address.

If you receive a message that seems out of the ordinary, consider the
RED FLAGS to be spotted:

  • Does it ask you for any private information?

  • Does it make any unrealistic promises?

  • Does it ask you to download any files or information?

  • Does it contain any suspicious links?

  • Does it create an urgency or fear?

  • Does it redirect to any pages that ask for credentials?

  • Does the email seem unprofessional?

  • Does it ask you to click or visit anything?

  • Does it have any copycat URLs like my.apple.pay.com?


FIRST ASK YOURSELF: Why would this person ask for this type of information from me? Is this a legitimate email address or someone you know? 

SOLUTION: Instead of replying to the sent message, totally check out the email and then create a new email to the user’s actual BMail address (If any on-campus person) to inquire about the request.

Check out the Fleishman Center for any job opportunities. 

REVIEW THE ITS INFORMATION SECURITY PHISH TANK on a regular basis so you are aware of scams that are going around. ALWAYS forward any suspicious messages to security@binghamton.edu and police@binghamton.edu as soon as possible.