On August 24, 2021, a new fraudulent phishing message with the subject "Fw: UMASS Support Program " began targeting UMass Amherst email users. 

The email notifies the recipient “In response to the current hardship in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Massachusetts has decided to support all students and employees to get through these hard times.” and asks the recipient to “Visit the UMASS COVID-19 Support page”. The links in the message direct the recipient to a fraudulent web page.

Caution: This email did not come from the University of Massachusetts. It is a phishing scam designed to trick you into providing your personal information or other things of value.

Do not respond to the fraudulent message! Responding or opening any attachments from the sender may put your information and the university's information and systems at risk. If you have already responded to the message and supplied your personal information, or something else of value, please notify us at itprotect@umass.edu.

For more information about this phishing scam or to learn more about what you can do to protect yourself, see the News section of the UMass Amherst IT website. Please report suspicious messages to itprotect@umass.edu.

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When receiving suspicious messages or messages from unknown senders, we recommend that you:

• Verify the identity of anyone who requests your personal information. Never provide financial data or other personal information in response to an email or on an untrusted site or form.
• Report these messages to itprotect@umass.edu.

Learn more about phishing attacks and how to avoid getting caught: 

• Phishing: Fraudulent Emails, Text Messages & Phone Calls
• Protect Yourself Against Phishing & Identity Theft
• See the Latest Phishing Scams on Campus

 

Fraudulent message: