UCLA Information Security Office is aware of UCLA students being targeted by fake job/internship scams that impersonate UCLA staff and faculty members. Be mindful of phishing emails that may be disguised as a job opportunity.

These messages often include the name of a real UCLA professor or administrator and may even copy their email signature to appear more convincing.

However, the actual sender address does not belong to UCLA. Instead, the emails are coming from external accounts such as @gmail.com, not from an official @ucla.edu address. This mismatch between the display name/signature and the true sending domain is a strong indicator of fraud.

The email claims to come from HR or a professor and thanks the recipient for being “acknowledged for the role.” It then asks the recipient to check their spam folder for HR messages and, as a next step, gather pricing information for office equipment such as webcams, projectors, or printers.

What to watch for

• Display names or signatures that look like UCLA staff, but the From field shows a personal address (e.g., example@gmail.com).
• Requests to continue communication on a non-UCLA email account.
• Links to Google Forms or other third-party forms that claim to be official UCLA applications but are not hosted on a ucla.edu domain.
• Unusual requests such as providing ID, Bruincard, resumes, or personal details.
• Unusual request for office equipment pricing. Legitimate hiring or onboarding processes do not ask students or staff to comparison-shop for electronics.
• Creates urgency. The email tells you to complete the task “within the hour” to pressure a quick response without careful review.
• Financial scam setup. After initial compliance, victims are typically asked to purchase the items with their own money (using PayPal, gift cards, or similar services) with the false promise of reimbursement. This is a well-known scam pattern.

What to do

• Do not respond to these messages or provide any information.
• Do not send money or make purchases based on email instructions.
• Report the message to security@ucla.edu.
• If you have already responded or sent money, contact the IT Security team and your bank/payment provider immediately.

Always verify the true sending address and ensure that any application forms or surveys are hosted on official UCLA platforms before responding.

If you are interested in finding a student job at UCLA, consider searching for positions on UCLA Career Center powered by Handshake (link is external), or contacting a potential supervisor directly using their official UCLA email address and not from unsolicited sources.

Sender: Prof. Stefano Soatto <dckstr9@gmail[.]com>

Subject: UCLA Remote Research Associate Position - resume and id

Body:

You have been acknowledged for the role. You can expect to receive communication from HR soon. Occasionally, due to technical issues, emails may be directed to your spam or filter folders. Kindly take a moment to check those folders as well and confirm if you have received any message from HR. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions.

Let me know if you received an email from the HR department.   To prepare you ahead, the next step in supporting your assignment responsibilities, we kindly ask that you gather pricing information for the following essential office supplies:
Atzeste Webcam 4K HD USB Autofocus PC Webcam

Epson Projector with high-resolution capability

Brother MFCL2710DW All-in-One Printer

These items have been allocated to you by the department to support the effective execution of your assigned responsibilities.

To identify the most cost-effective options and confirm availability, please conduct your search using reputable retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, or Best Buy.


We kindly ask that you verify the pricing and delivery details electronically, and submit your findings within the hour.

I await your response.

Prof. Stefano Soatto
Department of Computer Science
404 Westwood Plaza
Engineering VI
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1596
UCLA 

Below are several other emails that the scammer may send in the same chain. 

Body:

This sounds interesting. I wanted to inform you that your details have been successfully forwarded to the Human Resources Employment Division for processing. You should be receiving an official notification from HR regarding your approval status within the hour.  I’m happy to provide further clarity on the expectations and structure of the role.

As a Research Assistant, you will be working under flexible conditions designed to support your academic commitments. The expected workload will not exceed 7 hours per week, ensuring the position remains manageable alongside your coursework.

Tasks are generally assigned on a weekly basis, with some flexibility to accommodate evolving research needs. Additionally, a senior or partnering student will be assigned to work closely with you to help guide your progress and ensure you are well-supported in completing your responsibilities.

In the meantime, could you kindly confirm how soon you would be available to begin work? Your availability will help us plan your onboarding and assignment schedule accordingly.

Looking forward to your response.

Prof. Stefano Soatto
Department of Computer Science
404 Westwood Plaza
Engineering VI
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1596
UCLA 

Body:

I appreciate your feedback. Your details were received successfully. Even if you haven’t asked yet, I completely understand you might be wondering about the research focus, and I’ll be glad to share this with you.

Our research within the Department of Computer Science typically centers on applied and theoretical studies that explore how technology can address real-world challenges. Some of the key areas we often focus on include:

  * Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning applications.
  *Data analysis, algorithms, and optimization.
  *Human–computer interaction and usability studies.
  *Software systems and automation.
  *Computational modeling and simulation.

These studies aim to advance knowledge in the field of computing, while also creating innovative solutions that can be applied in education, healthcare, business, and public services.

By assisting with this research, you’ll gain exposure to how technical data is collected, structured, and analyzed, as well as how computational methods are applied to produce meaningful outcomes. Your contributions may involve tasks such as data organization, reviewing algorithmic results, literature support, and assisting with technical documentation.

Your role as a Research Associate is essential in ensuring our projects run efficiently and produce impactful results that contribute both to academic research and practical applications.

To proceed further, could you describe your communication skills and how promptly you usually respond to messages?

Thank you,

Prof. Stefano Soatto
Department of Computer Science
404 Westwood Plaza
Engineering VI
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1596
UCLA

Stay safe!

When in doubt, look for these signs, and use your best judgement. Verify the offer by contacting the company directly. Look them up online. Don’t use the number or email address from the email. Look for a contact in department website, call them and ask if this is a legitimate job offer.  

If you are interested in finding a student job at UCLA, consider searching for positions on UCLA Career Center powered by Handshake (link is external), or contacting a potential supervisor directly using their official UCLA email address and not from unsolicited sources.

What to Do if You Paid a Scammer 

No matter how you paid — debit or credit card, bank or wire transfer, gift card, or cash reload card — immediately contact the company you used to send the money, report the fraud, and ask to have the transaction reversed, if possible. For specific advice and tips on how to reverse different types of payments, read What to Do If You Were Scammed (link is external).

Report Job Scams 

If you lost money to a job scam, report it to UCLA Police Department (link is external) and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (link is external).