Recently UCLA has seen a significant increase in the volume of “impersonation” email campaigns affecting the campus community. These email campaigns rely on social engineering tactics and generally involve the creation of a Gmail account with a very similar email address to a senior UCLA executive in a deception attempt to coerce the recipient into a response.
A close inspection of the emails quickly alerts you to a possible scam. The sender’s email address is usually in the form of <importantperson.ucla@gmail.com>. This is not a legitimate UCLA email address.
If you receive a message like this, it is likely a phishing message and you should not respond to the message. If you are concerned that the message is real, reach out to the sender using their contact information in the university directory (https://directory.ucla.edu/).
Sender: Katherine Burke <kathlizzyupton@gmail.com>
Subject: Check this out : give away for the lovers of MacBook Air and PS5 with the accessories for you!!!
Dear Student/Staff/Faculty,
My son is giving out his old MacBook Air And Play station 5 to whoever is interested in having any of those items, kindly message my son with your private email at wayneeo@proton.me for pick up and inspection.
Thanks
Katherine S. Burke
Lecturer
Department of Near Eastern language & Culture
E-mail: kasburke@ucla.edu |Office: 382 Kaplan Hall
UCLA’s College
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Report Scams
If you receive a suspicious email, do not click on any links, open any attachments, send payment, or supply any credentials. Please do not reply to the email and immediately contact security[@]ucla.edu and report it to your IT team.
