FRAUD ALERT: Unsolicited job offers received through email target CUNY students September 18, 2020

From: Office of Information Technology < no-reply@ccny.cuny.edu >
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2020 
To: CCNY Students
Subject: FRAUD ALERT: Unsolicited job offers received through email target CUNY students

Dear CCNY Students,

At the start of this new semester, there has been an uptick in certain types of fraud that appear to target CUNY students. This fraud often takes the form of so-called “secret-mystery shopper” or “personal assistant” scams, or some variation thereof.

The Office of Information Technology encourages students to be wary of any unsolicited job offers received through email, even if they appear to originate from a legitimate college account. If a student receives an email that is questionable they should:

1. Do not open any email that you think is questionable.
2. Students can seek help from the Student Affairs Office ( studentaffairs@ccny.cuny.edu ) or the Office of Information Technology ( servicedesk@ccny.cuny.edu ) in verifying this type of email.

The links below contain useful information on the types of scams mentioned, courtesy of CUNY CIS.  Please check the CCNY Information Security website and Important Notices webpage for all current Alerts. 

Advisory on the security.cuny.edu website describing the types of scams:

https://www.cuny.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/page-assets/about/administration/offices/cis/information-security/cuny-issued-security-advisories/secret-shopper-scam-2020.pdf

A June 2020 non-PDF version for reference in the CUNY Brief:

https://www.cuny.edu/about/administration/offices/cis/information-security/cuny-issued-security-advisories/secret-mystery-shopper-personal-assistant-scams/

The advisory is also highlighted on the Blackboard home page. 

The Office of Information Technology