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Warning: Increase in Phishing/Spam Emails
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- Please be extra vigilant when opening emails due to a recent spike in spam and phishing emails.
- If you do not recognize the sender of an email, do not not click on any links.
- No legitimate source will ask you to pay for goods or services with a gift card or bitcoin. If they do it's a scam.
- The majority of these phishing attempts are being sent from Gmail accounts, therefore Microsoft is more aggressively marking Gmail emails as spam. For this reason, you should check your Microsoft Quarantine email list regularly for legitimate emails.
Below are some examples of recent phishing attempts we've seen, with tips on how to determine they are scams. |
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SharePoint/OneDrive File Sharing Phishing/Spam
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In this example, the scammer sends an email that looks like a legitimate Microsoft SharePoint/OneDrive notification appearing to be sent from someone within Central. A closer look reveals the sender does not work at Central, and the External Email flag indicates this email originated outside of Central. Also notice how "vice president" isn't capitalized - spelling and grammar mistakes may be small but are huge red flags. Files shared from a Central SharePoint site or OneDrive will not be flagged as external. Any time you receive a file sharing link from any source (Microsoft, Google Docs, Dropbox, etc.), even if the sender appears familiar, you should scrutinize the message and confirm its authenticity.
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Offers of Free/Cheap Items Phishing/Spam
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In this example, the scammer sends an email advertising that someone is giving away items for free or very cheap. This type of email is targeting you with a fake offer in order to collect your personal information and steal money from you. Often they ask for payment in the form of a gift card or bitcoin because these forms of payment are hard to trace. No legitimate source will ask you to pay for goods or services with a gift card or bitcoin. If they do it's a scam. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it's probably a scam.
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If you receive a questionable message, please report it using the “Phish Alert ” button in Outlook. This button reports spam/phishing emails to the KnowBe4 security system and Microsoft simultaneously, while also removing the email from your inbox.
Add known senders to your Safe Senders list in Outlook. Click here for instructions.
Check your Microsoft Quarantine email list regularly for legitimate emails.
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