Once again, job scammers are impersonating real UVic professors to target students in need of extra funds to pay for tuition and other necessities. This latest batch isn’t as elaborately written as the last one posted here, but still has some of the usual red flags:
- The email came from a Gmail address. If a job offer comes from or tells you to contact an address from a free email provider like Gmail or Outlook.com, it’s extremely likely to be a scam.
- The name of the sender does not match the signature block. Inconsistencies like that can be a sign that something is not right with the email.
- The scammer may be trying to create a false sense of urgency by saying a student is “urgently required” to trick you into replying hastily.
- The salary is too good to be true–$320 per week for only 8 hours of remote work is well above the typical wage for co-op or other student jobs.
- Although there are no glaring grammatical errors, the wording still comes across as stilted and awkward.
If you replied to the scammer, cease contact and reach out to the Computer Help Desk or your department’s IT support person for assistance.
From: P***** C***** <[redacted]@gmail.com>
Subject: Student Job OpeningYou don’t often get email from [redacted]@gmail.com. Learn why this is important.
The service of a student is urgently required to work part-time as a student administrative assistant in the Department of Biology and get paid $320 weekly. This is a remote opportunity and work time is 8 hours in a week.
To apply, please submit your resume to the Department of Biology via this email address to proceed.Sincerely
Dr. ****** B*****
Professor
Department of Biology
Office: CUN ****