SCAM ALERT: STUDENT AID PROGRAM
DATE: 02/17/2024
EMAIL SUBJECT: STUDENT AIDS PROGRAM
COMMUNICATION CHANNEL: Email
SENDER: The New School <info@studentaidsinternship.ing>
Note: This phishing scam also included a check cashing scam. Please see details of both scams below.
Phishing Message Image
Message Text & Red Flags
Message Text
Dear Students at The New School,
We are thrilled to update you on the available remote internship opportunities offered through the Office of Job Placement and Student Services. Our aim is to provide financial support to students facing monetary challenges while offering valuable research experience. These remote internships allow for a maximum commitment of seven hours per week, with flexible schedules that can be completed either from your residence or on-campus. Selected students will receive a compensation of $350 per week.
This remote internship is open to students from every department within the institution, and tasks can be performed entirely from home. However, please note that the number of positions is limited, and selection will be on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in this opportunity, kindly reach out to Professor Robert Polito in the Creative writing faculty via text at +1(332) 276-6430. Please include your full name, email address, year of student, and department when requesting more information about the job requirements and application details.
We encourage you to submit your application early due to the limited number of available slots. We look forward to hearing from you and wish you the best of luck in your studies.
Best regards,
Office of Job Placement and Student Services,
The New School
🚩 The email claims to be from a department at The New School but the sender email address "info@studentaidsinternship.ing" is not a valid or official TNS email address.
🚩 The email references a valid university faculty member but directs you to contact them via text. This faculty member has confirmed that the fraudulent email did not come from him.
Note: Faculty and staff always conduct business using official @newschool.edu email addresses according to the university's Acceptable Use Policy. Staff and faculty will never collect your information via text message.
🚩 There is no Office of Job Placement and Student Services at The New School. If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from The New School, you should always verify the office or department on the university website or look up faculty and staff using the university directory.
🚩 The email adds pressure to respond quickly and without thinking about the validity of the email by noting the internship is "first-come, first-served" and to submit early due to the "limited number of available slots."
If you received this email, do not engage with the email— do not reply, forward, download attachments, or click on links. Please delete the email from your inbox.
Internship Check Cashing Scam
A fraudulent check was then emailed to a community member.
Phishing Message Images
Message Text & Red Flags
Message Text
The Payroll Department has enrolled your information for weekly payments and the Paycheck for the office supplies is attached to this email. The Paycheck covers the expenses for the office supplies. A Sales Representative will be assigned to assist with the purchase of these items once the funds are available from this deposit. Kindly proceed to make a mobile deposit and inform me once it is completed for clearance. Further Assignments as well as your employment documents will be sent once the supplies are delivered. Kindly confirm via text once you have received this email!
I have outlined instructions on how to make a mobile deposit below.
Print out and cut it into a ( check size/shape )
At the back of your check endorse by writing your
Full Name
Mobile Deposit Only
Your account number
Sign.
make a mobile deposit on your mobile banking account.
Red Flags in the message:
🚩 The message contains suspicious capitalization, formatting and space errors.
🚩 Valid employer will never send you a check to deposit and then tell you to send back part of the money or buy items with it. The check will bounce, and the bank will want you to repay the amount of the fake check.
🚩 The sender says their employment documents will not be available until the check is deposited.
Red Flags on the Check:
🚩The authorized signature on the check is not an employee of Human Resources or The New School- it appears to be signed by former president Richard Nixon! You can look up faculty and staff anytime using using the university directory.
🚩The unique check ID listed near the QR code on the check does not match any of the numbers on the check itself.
If you received this email, do not engage with the email— do not reply, forward, download attachments, or click on links. Please delete the email from your inbox.
For more information see Check Cashing Scams.