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MCC Daily Tribune

Department spear phish attacks

Technology Services has been notified by departments of an uptick in spear phishing. Targeted emails are being sent that appear to be from the chair or department head, but are not.

Unfortunately, when we identify the source of these reported attacks, our filters see that there is email traffic going back and forth to the cyberattackers. In other words, department employees are responding to the spear phishing emails instead of recognizing them as fake and deleting them.

Here are some red flags to look for in the sender's email, so that you don't fall for this:

  • Is the request urgent? (I can't get to this right now, so need you to do something for me as soon as possible.)
  • Does the request ask that you buy something, such as gift cards, that they supposedly will reimburse you for later?
  • Is the "from" email address @monroecc.edu OR does it say something else like monroecc.edu@gmail.com?
  • Does the warning banner on the email indicate it originated outside of the MCC email system?
  • Is there a phone number in the signature that looks nothing like an MCC phone number?

Do NOT respond to these emails or provide your personal or MCC information.

Eileen Wirley
Technology Services - AVP Office
01/30/2020