8/06/2009: Beware of Fake Account Verification Messages
UCLA's abuse team has received reports of emails that ask for usernames and passwords. If you have received any, please IGNORE it and immediately DELETE those emails, as they are account phishing attempts. The bodies of the messages may be similar to the following:
Example 1:
Attn: Faculty/Staff/Students,
This message is from our Helpdesk Team to all webmail account owners.
We noticed that your webmail account has been compromised by spammers. It seems they have gained access into our database and have been using it for illegal internet activities.
The center is currently performing maintenance and upgrading its database. We intend upgrading our Email Security Server for better online services.
You are to send us your account information immediately to enable us reset your account. A new password will be sent to you once this is done.
Send the information as follows
*Username:
*Password:
*Alternate email:
In order to ensure you do not experience service interruptions, please reply to this email immediately and provide the following information above to prevent your account from being deactivated from our database.
Thank you for using our online services.
Helpdesk Team
Example 2:
This is to noitfy all our Bruin Online Webmail (BOL) webmail account owners due to our online webmesaging center with error H-4I84JLKSLI you need to upgrade your account / re-set your SPACE on our database, send us your ***Current Username & Current Password***
Webmaster Online Department
Copyright © 2009 Bruin Online services.
Once again, these emails do NOT originate from Bruin OnLine or any other campus agency. Viruses and phishing attempts such as these are usually easy to spot by the fact that they are requesting your account information (username and password), birth date, and/or University ID Number (UID). Please be aware that Bruin OnLine staff will never request your password at any time.
If you have replied to any email with your account information, please visit https://logon.ucla.edu/passchange.php to immediately change your password.
If you have any questions please contact the BOL Help Desk at (310) 267-4357, option 1, or at consult@ucla.edu.