Students (new package)

october5studentsemail

october5studentsscreenshot

Why this looks valid

  • The email appears to be from an actual Vassar user.
  • The Vassar post office sends notifications regarding packages.
  • The link redirects to a page that resembles Dropbox, a file sharing service that Vassar does use.

Why this is phishing

  • A valid Vassar post office package notification does not contain any links or require a login to view package details.
  • The link in the email does not go to a Vassar site or any other service related to Vassar.
  • No Vassar College service login page asks for a phone number as part of authentication.
  • Pages that ask a user to select their provider for login are usually phishing attempts.
  • Grammar errors, spelling errors, and generic salutations and sign-offs are usually indicative of a suspicious email.

Additional notes

  • This is an extremely dangerous Phishing attempt. If you clicked on this link and may have completed the form, please contact the Service Desk immediately at x7224 or servicedesk@vassar.edu
  • A phone call to the alleged sender would quickly verify if this is a legitimate email. It only takes a few minutes to pick up the phone!
  • Report it as phishing to Google. Before deleting the message, make sure to click on “report phishing”.
  • A little paranoia goes a long way! Be suspicious of any email messages similar to this one.