Phishing Email Scam: Private Donation

Phishing Email Breakdown

This phishing attempt tries to trick the recipient into thinking they’ve received a private donation, prompting them to contact an external email address for further details. The scammers’ goal may be to convince the recipient to pay a small transaction fee to release the donation funds, ultimately stealing money or personal information. 

Visual Example of the Phishing Email 

Full Text from the Phishing Attempt 

A Private donation was made to you. contact ( {external email address} ) for more infor. 

How to Protect Yourself? 

1. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Offers: Treat unexpected emails offering grants you do not need to repay with caution, especially if you did not initiate the conversation or express interest beforehand. 
2. Review Grammar and Punctuation Carefully: If a message is filled with spelling mistakes, inconsistent sentence structure, or odd phrasing, it may indicate a phishing attempt. 

Important Notes: 

1. Report Suspicious Messages: Reporting phishing attempts helps prevent others from falling victim to these attacks. Send suspicious messages to is-spam@mcmaster.ca for review and investigation. 
2. Educate Yourself: Learn about common phishing tactics. Consider participating in the Information Security Training Program to protect against cyber threats and secure your digital world.