This morning, the Division of Information Technology(DoIT) received a report of fraudulent emails sent to the University System of Maryland office.. The fraudster is forging the name of UMBC President Sheares Ashby, probably in an attempt to get the recipient to purchase gift cards on the fraudster’s behalf. Below is an example of the email. For privacy, we removed the To field.
From: Valerie Sheares Ashby <executivedir808@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 6:35 AM To: Subject: TASK: Thursday, Oct. 13TH
Good Morning,
Is your schedule open? I'll need you to run an errand for me. I'm heading into a meeting with limited communication access soon, so just reply to me via email.
Sincerely,
Valerie Sheares Ashby
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A slightly different version appeared in some UMBC inboxes, this one pretending to be from Vice Provost and Dean Rutedge.
From: Janet Rutledge <executivedir808@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2022 6:35 AM To: Subject: TASK: Thursday, Oct. 13TH
Good Morning,
Is your schedule open? I'll need you to run an errand for me. I'm heading into a meeting with limited communication access soon, so just reply to me via email.
Sincerely,
Janet Rutledge
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THIS REQUEST IS NOT REAL!
This is a common scam to get the recipient to purchase gift cards or something else of value that can be sent through email.
Whatever you spend, you will not get back.
If you have responded to the message and performed any errands such as purchasing gift cards, please do not send the codes to executivedir808@gmail.com.
If you have received any message similar to the one listed above, please forward it with its headers tosecurity@umbc.edu. For instructions, visit https://wiki.umbc.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1867970.
If you need further assistance, please contact us at security@umbc.edu.
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Receive any suspicious emails?
Forward it to security@umbc.edu along with the email headers. For instructions, visit https://wiki.umbc.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=1867970.
Follow us on myUMBC:https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/itsecurity.