Fake Job Offer Email Scam Targeting Students
Jobs that sound too good to be true should raise a red flag for anyone. Fake job postings are being sent via unsolicited emails to student accounts and showing up on online job listing sites. Faculty and staff also should beware of this scam.
An email scam is being sent to students in which a scammer offers a “work from home” or “part-time job offer.” These malicious attackers are hoping that the recipient is eager to find a part-time job and make a few hundred dollars a week.
Scammers are preying on students looking for ways to make extra money. They gain a student’s trust by mailing them a check that turns out to be fraudulent or is cancelled a few days after deposit.
The messages are very convincing and may appear to come from an @duq.edu email address. Some of the messages falsely indicate the jobs are sponsored by Duquesne University.
These fake job postings are attempts to steal personal information and money or bank account information. If a student replies to the email expressing interest, the scammer begins to request PII (Personally Identifiable Information) such as:
- Name
- Address
- Zip code
- Birthday
- Gender
- Copy of ID or driver’s license
- Cell phone number.
Once they receive the victim’s information, the scammer mails the student a check as an “advance.” The student deposits the check and is asked to follow instructions provided by the culprit. Instructions can include purchasing gift cards, transferring funds to another account, etc.
Once the check is deposited, the culprit cancels the check (or it bounces) after a period of time, leaving the victim out of the money they spent or transferred. Banks will not help victims who fall for this fraud.
If you have received or responded to one of these messages, report it immediately to the CTS Help Desk at help@duq.edu. For more information about this scam, check out the News and Alerts section at www.duq.edu/safe-computing.