Message from ITS Communications: Phishing Campaign Identified and Mitigated
Posted on Monday, December 9th, 2024
Dear College Community,
ITS has recently identified and successfully mitigated a phishing campaign targeting Employees and Students through deceptive emails originating from Gmail accounts impersonating Algonquin College.
To raise awareness and help Employees and Learners recognize such threats, we are sharing the details of this campaign so that you can better protect yourself and our community.
What You Need to Know:
- Source of Emails: These phishing attempts came from Gmail accounts impersonating known entities or individuals.
- Deceptive Subjects: Common subject lines included:
- Invoice notifications pretending to be from Algonquin College (e.g., Invoice #INV-0011).
- HIRING NOW
- Consent
- Notice
- PART TIME
- NEW ANNOUNCEMENT
- Calendar invitations (e.g., Somm Cert, resuming the part-time program).
- 2025W Faculty Draft Timetable
- Trustworthy Appearance: These emails often used familiar names and formats to appear credible and entice engagement.
What the Phishing Emails Look Like:
- Emails often created a sense of urgency, urging immediate action (e.g., ACT NOW!!! or Executive Ease Offer).
- Links embedded in these emails are redirected to malicious websites that steal credentials or spread malware.
What You Should Do:
- Stay Vigilant:
- Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in emails that seem suspicious.
- Verify unexpected emails by directly contacting the sender through official channels.
- Inspect Carefully:
- Be cautious with emails from Gmail accounts, particularly those with the listed subject lines.
- Look for inconsistencies or unusual requests within the email.
- Report Incidents:
- Use the “Report Phishing” button in your email client to report suspicious messages.
- Notify ITS Client Care at 5555@algonquincollege.com
Your proactive reporting and vigilance are key to protecting yourself and our community. ITS will continue to monitor for similar threats and share updates as necessary.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Stay safe and alert.
Kind regards,
The Information Technology Services Department
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