Email Attacks

Tripwire has released an article warning of these COVID-19 related email scams. The article can be found at this link: https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-awareness/covid-19-scam-roundup-may-4-2020/

(FAKE) Failed Delivery Notice

They report on a finding from Kaspersky Labs, where they warn of a spam email campaign informing recipients that a delivery attempt had failed because their shipment details were incorrect and the reader needs to update their details. An image of a receipt is included in the message.  The receipt is too small to read easily, so the recipient will probably click on it for a better look. Clicking on the attachment will load spyware onto the user's device.

(FAKE) Donation to WHO

A malicious actor sent out emails urging recipients to consider donating to the World Health Organization. The email has a from address of “support@covid-19[.]world” and includes a link at the bottom saying “Help Us Fight”.  Clicking the link will take the reader to a malicious domain help-who[.]com. For readers to donate they must click on the embedded link which allows the malicious actors to steal the reader’s payment information.

(FAKE) Update to Family and Medical Leave Act

Finally the article reports that IBM X-Force discovered a phishing email campaign that seemed to be from the US Department of Labor. The email states they have made changes to the “Family and Medical Leave of Act” as a result of COVID-19. This email then asks readers to review the attached word document. The attachment will install malware which puts the reader’s computer under the control of a botnet.

The UMBC Division of Information Technology received notification of a new job scam variant on 08may2020.  The subject is: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION

From: Koyepes Michael <michaelkoyepes199@gmail.com>

Date: Fri, May 8, 2020 at 9:54 AM

Subject: UMBC COVID-19 INFORMATION

Dear students,

University of Maryland, Baltimore County health professionals have been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 over the past two months.Therefore the university is organizing an online part time job to sustain the students living.I'm happy to inform you that our reputable company CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®,is currently running a student empowerment program.

    KINDLY EMAIL BACK WITH YOUR  PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS IF INTERESTED IN THIS JOB POSITION.

Kind Regards

Koyepes Michael

HR Manager/Consultant

CORESTAFF SERVICES Inc®

This is a scam!  DO NOT REPLY TO IT!

A reply confirms that your UMBC email address is active.  That is an invitation to get more spam.  You are also asked to provide your personal address.  That’s two addresses for spamming.   You may then be asked to fill out a form with personal information which can then be added to your email address.  That means, at least, that the spam can be targeted to you.  If you provide information such as your birthdate, address, or social security number, the information can also be used for identity theft.  

Even if you are tempted to send the scammer a hostile, insulting message,

DO NOT REPLY!

You will not hurt the scammer’s feelings.  You will simply provide information about yourself directly or indirectly.

E-mail fraud is in the rise. The Division of Information Technology is tracking it. If you get suspicious email, please forward it to security@umbc.edu. If you are not sure whether it is suspicious, forward it anyway. We will investigate it and get back to you.

Congratulations to the 2020
Center for Social Science Scholarship
Summer Fellows!

Keisha McIntosh Allen

Assistant Professor, Department of Education

“The Souls of Black Teachers: Theorizing Black Teachers’ Spiritually Grounded Professional Lives”

While Black teachers’ spirituality has historically been the backbone of Black education rooted in both why and how teachers teach, it is missing from current conversations about Black K-12 teachers’ engagement with pedagogies rooted in social justice as well as how they engage spirituality to navigate racially mediated experiences. We position Black teacher spirituality as a justice-focused literacy that not only guides Black teachers’ practice but also how they navigate racism within the profession. This study utilizes semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews, and document analysis to theorize how Black social justice-oriented teachers engage spirituality in their professional lives. Findings from this research can be used to develop relevant professional development opportunities and supports for Black teachers to retain them in the profession.

Irina V. Golubeva

Associate Professor, Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

“Intercultural Competence for College and University Students: Towards Social Change and Better Employability”

The overall goal of this project is two-fold: to pilot the methodology offered in the book which I am currently co-authoring, and to finalize the book manuscript based on the collected feedback data in collaboration with my colleague who is based in Europe. Focused on intercultural competence, this book addresses and links together three topics that we believe to be extremely important yet treated relatively separately in the current literature. First, how intercultural competence increases the potential for peace and positive relationships between people from different cultures. Second, how intercultural competence links to communicating effectively across cultures as well as to addressing issues of equality, diversity and inclusion – both domestically and worldwide. Third, how intercultural competence can also support them in terms of employability and career success.

Zoë McLaren

Associate Professor, School of Public Policy

“Data Visualization Approaches to Communicate Clearly, Inspire Policy Action and Achieve A More Inclusive Policy Environment”

This project seeks to determine the formats in which data visualization communicates information about equity most efficiently (i.e. with the least complexity or extraneous information) and most effectively (i.e. the most intuitive for end users to understand and in a way that is actionable).  This proposal has three specific aims: (1) develop and validate a set of measures of health equity; (2) produce a portfolio of data visualizations using Stata, R and Tableau Public; (3) perform semi-structured interview testing of visualizations to generate guidelines for inclusive engagement in data visualization. The project will produce six specific outcomes: (1) a set of validated health equity measures; (2) an electronic portfolio of data visualizations; (3) one policy brief about inclusive data visualization for policy communication; (4) at least one external funding application; (5) at least one peer-reviewed publication; and (6) instructional materials for an “inclusive engagement in data visualization” workshop for UMBC colleagues.  Producing data visualizations that are accessible to a broad audience of underserved populations is a critical step in creating a more inclusive policy environment.

MAY 8TH IS THE LAST DAY FOR SONA EXTRA CREDIT!!!

We are a team of undergraduate researchers in Dr. Lynnda Dahlquist’s Psychology lab. We are interested in: a) understanding how the recent COVID-19 pandemic is affecting UMBC undergraduate students, and b) identifying the personal, social, and environmental resources students are utilizing to adapt to this stressful situation. If you are interested in participating in this anonymous survey, please proceed to this link: UMBC Community Coping with COVID-19 Survey.