Fraudulent Email Awareness

Date:             February 13, 2023

Several fraudulent emails are being received by members of the BU community. This communication is to alert you to this particular fraud and to help you spot  phishing emails in general. If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to abuse@bu.edu.

Summary of Incident:

BUPD is reminding our community to remain vigilant about fraud. Many community members reported receiving an email to their bu.edu account from info@domaine-desbans.fr addressed to you@bu.edu the subject line is “WORK OFFER !!!” This email has an attachment that appears to be a Microsoft Word document.

We are reminding everyone to be highly suspicious of any emails concerning job opportunities, apartment rentals, immigration status, or law enforcement actions. These are phishing emails designed to entice or frighten individuals to send money, gift cards or electronic casher transfers (cash apps). When responded to, the scammers may initiate the scam by sending a fraudulent paper check for a large sum, asking the person to deposit the check and send back a portion of the amount.

No legitimate business or government agency will transact business in this way.

What makes it suspicious? These are some of the factors that you can assess to determine if a communication is a fraud. Please note that scammers are very good at making an email look like a legitimate company such as a bank, credit card or online retailer.

  • URGENCY Cyber criminals want you to take action without thinking. They create a sense of urgency and call to action when crafting their scams.
  • REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION Be wary of requests for your information. A legitimate organization will never ask you for your password or other personal information.
  • TIMELINESS & CONTEXT Timing is everything. If an email seems untimely and out of context, stop, think, and ask “why am I receiving this email right now?”
  • SENDER INFORMATION Verify the sender by verifying the “From:” is a legitimate address. Valid BU emails will ONLY come from a ‘username@bu.edu’ address.
  • POOR GRAMMAR Awkward wording or misspellings within an email from a reputable source, or even a colleague or friend, is often an indicator you may have received a phishing email.

HYPERLINKS Remember, never click on links before verifying they go where they say they’re going.

Recommendation: DO NOT REPLY to emails that seem suspicious. Please use this link to see a comprehensive list of fraudulent emails BU’s Phish Bowl : TechWeb : Boston University .

Suspect: There is no suspect information at this time. These emails may come from anywhere and may originate outside of the US as well.

Advice: While each scam typically has a different plot, they all require the victim to send money in a form that is not easily traced and in a way that the money cannot be recovered. If you find yourself in this situation here are some useful tips provided to consumers by the Federal Trade Commission:

 

  1. Spot imposters. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, a charity, or a company you do business with. Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an unexpected request — whether it comes as a text, a phone call, or an email.
  2. Do online searches. Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported them as scams.
  3. Don’t believe your caller ID. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
  4. Don’t pay upfront for a promise. Someone might ask you to pay in advance for things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, or a job. They might even say you’ve won a prize, but first you have to pay taxes or fees. If you do, they will probably take the money and disappear.
  5. Consider how you pay. Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don’t. Wiring money through services like Western Union or MoneyGram is risky because it’s nearly impossible to get your money back. That’s also true for reloadable cards (like MoneyPak or Reloadit) and gift cards (like iTunes or Google Play). Government offices and honest companies won’t require you to use these payment methods.
  6. Talk to someone. Before you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online search, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.
  7. Hang up on robocalls. If you answer the phone and hear a recorded sales pitch, hang up and report it to the FTC. These calls are illegal, and often the products are bogus. Don’t press 1 to speak to a person or to be taken off the list. That could lead to more calls.
  8. Be skeptical about free trial offers. Some companies use free trials to sign you up for products and bill you every month until you cancel. Before you agree to a free trial, research the company and read the cancellation policy. And always review your monthly statements for charges you don’t recognize.
  9. Don’t deposit a check and wire money back. By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but uncovering a fake check can take weeks. If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you’re responsible for repaying the bank.
  • Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at gov/scams. Get the latest tips and advice about scams sent right to your inbox.

 

If you sent any money or gave personal information, please report the incident to the BUPD at 617-353-2121 as soon as possible.

Follow Up: The Boston University Police is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding these incidents and is encouraging anyone who may have information about these incidents to come forward and contact the Boston University Police at (617) 353-2121. We are working with our partners at to limit the impact these scammers have on our community members.

Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by texting the word ‘BU’ to (847411). The Boston University Police Department welcomes your messages and assistance anytime.

Issued by:

Boston University Police Department

32 Harry Agganis Way

Boston, MA 02215

617-353-2121

 

WHAT IS THIS NOTICE?

This notice is an informational alert. Boston University Police has information to share to help prevent a similar crime.

 FEEDBACK: We welcome your feedback to help make our messages better. Please send to bupolice@bu.edu

 

 

 

 

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