Many UVa email addresses have recently received a message purporting to come from a supervisor, dean, department head or Vice President. These are usually one line asking if you are available and frequently have the subject "Urgent Request".
These messages are "spoofed" in that the scammer makes it appear as though they come from inside UVa but if you look at the real From line, it is always an external-to-UVa address.
Furthermore, they always say the sender is in a meeting and cannot be reached by phone. You are asked to buy gift cards, scratch off the codes and then email the sender with the codes.
DO NOT RESPOND TO THESE MESSAGES - if you receive one, immediately forward it to [email protected].
NO ONE AT UVA WILL EVER ASK YOU TO BUY GIFT CARDS IN AN EMAIL MESSAGE.
If you fall for this scam, and purchase gift cards on your personal credit card, contact your credit card company and see if you can dispute the charge.
University Information Security
[email protected]
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