UCLA Information Security Office is aware of UCLA students being targeted by fake job/internship scams. Be mindful of phishing emails that may be disguised as a job opportunity.
Example Emails:
---------------
INTERNSHIP AT (UCLA)!!!
The Department of Information Studies at UCLA urgently requires the services of graduate/undergraduate students to work remotely as research assistants who will be paid $350 weekly. This position is open to both UCLA students and students from outside the university, regardless of their academic department.
The job is designed flexibly and does not require a lot of prior experience. It is possible to accomplish tasks from the comfort of one's current location without interfering with their academic performance or daily activities.
To proceed with the application process, feel free to contact Christine L. Borgman at <fraudulent number> via text message stating your full name, email address, year of study, and department to receive the job description and further application requirements.
---------------
Hello, Attached is the paycheck to cover the expenses for the
office supplies and your first weekly pay. However, these supplies are for
your personal use to show gratitude for diligent work. Kindly proceed to
make a mobile deposit.
Instructions are outlined below on how to make a mobile deposit of your
check. Please print out and cut it to a ( check size/shape ) At the back of
your check endorse by writing your:
* Full name
* Mobile Deposit Only
* Your account number
* Sign.
Thank you.
---------------
Fraudulent phone numbers associated with this scam are as follows:
(703) 769-7674
---------------
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).
