Recent Email Scam Targets Georgia Tech Students and Employees

The Office of Information Technology’s Cyber Security unit has identified a widespread email phishing attack and identity theft scam that recently targeted approximately 8,800 students, faculty, and staff at Georgia Tech.

The Office of Information Technology’s Cyber Security unit has identified a widespread email phishing attack and identity theft scam that recently targeted approximately 8,800 students, faculty, and staff at Georgia Tech. Cyber Security is working with affected parties to ensure the integrity of their personal information is preserved following the attack.

“Email scams such as this typically increase in frequency as we approach the holiday season,” said Jimmy Lummis, chief information security officer at Georgia Tech. “Faculty, staff, and students should all be careful when someone asks for personal information. It is also good practice not to trust email links that appear to be from major retailers and shipping companies this time of year.”

The original message was sent to Georgia Tech recipients Saturday, Dec. 15, using a single gatech.edu email address that appears to have been compromised in a previous phishing message. Throughout the day, Cyber Security received several reports of suspicious messages – all of which had varying subject lines and messaging but encouraged recipients to participate in a car wrap advertising scam.  

Cyber Security is working diligently with the recipients of this most recent attack and urges anyone who may have submitted personal information to contact the Security Operations Center immediately at soc@gatech.edu and also report this incident to IdentityTheft.gov at www.identitytheft.gov.

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