Phish Bowl

I will report sketchy emails.

-Welcome to the Phish Bowl- 

When you receive a suspicious email, check the list below to verify if it is a current phishing scam caught at SHSU. If the email is listed, click "Got It" and delete the email. IT@Sam has already taken care of it.

You don't see the email on this list? Contact the IT@Sam Service Desk and report it immediately to abuse@shsu.edu

If the email is not on this list, do not assume it is safe. Use the "Awareness is My Armor" creed to ensure you know how to react and protect yourself when you receive a suspicious email.  

NOTE: We have worked to remove malicious content from these emails, but recommend that you do not explore any links or email addresses contained within these examples.

Phishing Emails

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Date:

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Phishing Subject:

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Description:

Phishing Emails Archive

Date:

02/22/2024

Description:

This message appears to be notifying students and staff of free instruments that are available due to downsizing. The only cost is for shipping. 

The intent of this message is that the bad actor will take money from those that respond and will not send the products listed.


Date:

02/22/2024

Description:

This message appears to be addressed to faculty and staff and contain assessment reports. The files attached are designed to steal your credentials to gain access to your account.


Date:

09/23/2023

Description:

This phishing message indicates that you have two Microsoft/Office 365 logins and to avoid termination you are requested to click a link.  This link will capture your login credentials to use to send out additional phishing messages.


Date:

12/08/2022

Description:

This phishing email is attempting to trick the recipient into viewing a seemingly important document by clicking a malicious link. 


Date:

11/29/2022

Description:

This phishing email appears to be advertising a personal assistant position for Sam Houston State University. This message contains a link to a malicious site that collects sensitive information from the recipient.


Date:

11/28/2022

Phishing Subject:

Memo; From The HR Department

Description:

This email is attempting to get the recipient to click a malicious link to review a document in DocuSign. 


Date:

11/28/2022

Phishing Subject:

Active Account Validation

Description:

This email is attempting to get you to validate your email account by clicking a malicious link that says "Validate Email Account." 


Date:

11/26/2022

Description:

This phishing email is advertising an administrative assistant position and contains a link to apply. The link provided is to a malicious site designed to capture sensitive data.


Date:

11/26/2022

Phishing Subject:

ALL USERS

Description:

This phishing email states that suspicious activities were notices in your school portal and requests you to verify your account. The URL provided appears to be a valid SHSU website, but is a malicious site designed to capture your credentials.


Date:

11/24/2022

Description:

This phishing email states that the "IT Help Desk" is "validating active accounts" and requests that recipient click a link to validate their account. This link takes the recipient to a malicious site that will collect their credentials.


Date:

11/24/2022

Description:

This phishing message states that "this is a special notice that your email and password will expire in 24 hours." It further goes on to provide instructions to update your password which includes a link to a malicious site to collect your credentials.


Date:

11/24/2022

Phishing Subject:

FLEXIBLE VIRTUAL JOB

Description:

This phishing email claims to be from a SHSU staff member and shares a link for a work-from-home position. The link provided captures personal information from the recipient.


Date:

11/09/2022

Phishing Subject:

*STAFF AND STUDENT EMPLOYMENT#

Description:

This email is urging students and staff to apply for a position for an unknown company. The "Click to apply" is a link that sends the user to a malicious site. 


Date:

11/02/2022

Description:

This phishing email state that your "office 365" account has two different logins. It goes on to state to avoid termination you must verify your account at a website that appears to be a SHSU website. This site collects your username and password for use by a bad actor. Please delete this message without clicking on any links or responding.


Date:

07/11/2022

Description:

This message appears to be a forward document name "2022 Mid-Year Assessment Review for All Staff & Faculty" from Dr. White, but is a link to a malicious document. 


Date:

06/09/2022

Phishing Subject:

IT@Sam Security Department.

Description:

This message appears to be from the IT Security office and requests that the user verify their account information after a suspicious sign in attempt. Clicking the included link will take you to a malicious site designed to capture your computer account credentials.


Date:

03/02/2022

Description:

The message is urging the recipient to apply for a "Personal Assistant" to a Business Analyst. The link to apply takes you to a malicious website.


Date:

03/01/2022

Phishing Subject:

MEMO FROM THE ADMIN

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to click a malicious DocuSign link to review a document. 


Date:

12/17/2021

Description:

Scam text messages that begin with some variation of the scammer introducing themselves as a faculty/staff member and addressing the recipient by name, then proceeding to ask the recipient to “rush down to the store and pick up a few gift items for the deans office.” Eventually, the scammer tries to trick the recipient into sending money through Zelle by stating that their Zelle isn’t working.

Please remember that requests like this are not made through text message. SHSU will never ask you to buy items or provide your username and passwords via text, call, social media or email. 


Date:

12/01/2021

Description:

 This email appears to be from a Human Resources and requests you to complete a benefits enrollment form. The link to the form leads you to a malicious site that will collect your log in information.


Date:

11/13/2021

Phishing Subject:

Part-Time Job!

Description:

This phishing email appears to be from UNICEF and contains details of a part time job. The message requests personal details be sent back through email.  

Please do not reply to any message with your personal details (full name, age, address, etc). These are details a bad actor would need to steal your identify.


Date:

11/04/2021

Phishing Subject:

IMPORTANT.

Description:

**Please note that the subject line of this message has varied.

This phishing email asks you  to sign into your account to view an important document on OneDrive. The link contained in the message is to a malicious site that will gather your login credentials.


Date:

11/04/2021

Phishing Subject:

GOOD OFFER

Description:

**Please note that the subject line of this message has varied.

This phishing email appears to be about an available work study position and contains a link to "APPLY HERE." The link contained in the message is to a malicious site that will gather your login credentials.


Date:

10/11/2021

Phishing Subject:

We received a request from you

Description:

A fake notice stating that a request was received to terminate your Office 365 email account. It attempts to get you to click a link that leads you to a malicious Google Forms page. 


Date:

10/11/2021

Phishing Subject:

WORK FROM HOME

Description:

This email appears to be from someone wishing to hire a part-time personal assistant. The link provided to apply is a malicious site that collects information about you.


Date:

09/29/2021

Phishing Subject:

Payroll schedule notification.

Description:

This email notifies you that you have an important notice about the 2021 payroll schedule.  The link to read the message is a fake login page that will capture your login credentials.


Date:

09/19/2021

Description:

Job offer to work part time linking you to a malicious Google form to apply or get more information. 


Date:

09/15/2021

Phishing Subject:

We have received your request

Description:

This phishing email states that you recently made a request to terminate your Office 365 email and provide a link to click to verify your account.  The link provided is to a malicious website that collects your login credentials.


Date:

09/14/2021

Description:

Phishing email sent telling users that SHSU is transitioning Office 365 to OWA. We are not making this transition. Do NOT click the google docs link. Once you do, the form will collect you user credentials. 


Date:

08/30/2021

Phishing Subject:

Inter Job With UNICEF

Description:

This email is a scam offering a paid internship and asking you to click a link for more information. The link is malicious ad  takes you to a site designed to collect personal user information. 


Date:

08/25/2021

Phishing Subject:

Finance Aid

Description:

This message appears to be from "Finance Aid" notifying the recipient of important unread messages. The link to read them takes you to a fake Microsoft login page.


Date:

08/19/2021

Phishing Subject:

shsu.edu Expiration Request=46

Description:

This message appears to be from Office 365 and notifies the recipient that their password is about to expire. The link contained in the message to "Keep Same Password" takes you to a malicious website that will collect your log in credentials.


Date:

08/17/2021

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get your SHSU credentials by making you think you are going to lose access to your Microsoft account if you don't update your password. 


Date:

08/14/2021

Phishing Subject:

[Urgent] New and Trending Jobs

Description:

This message states that you have been selected and approved for a personal assistant position. It also contains a link to a malicious website that will collect personal information about you.


Date:

08/06/2021

Phishing Subject:

University Employment

Description:

This email appears to be from SHSU about the recipient's employment. This message requests the recipient send sensitive information to a malicious gmail account.


Date:

08/04/2021

Phishing Subject:

Code:-[Time/Date]

Description:

This message is branded with Office 365 logo. There is a link to a fake Office 365 login page that will collect your credentials if you attempt to log in.


Date:

06/30/2021

Phishing Subject:

IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION

Description:

This message appears to be a reminder that you have a message waiting in the "Message Centre." The link to this Message Centre takes you to a fake SHSU login page that will obtain your login credentials if used.  These are then used to log into your account to send out more phishing messages.


Date:

06/23/2021

Description:

This phishing email appears to be from Amazon letting you know about a successful purchase. There are no malicious links, but the message contains a 1-800 number that you are to call with questions about the purchase. This 1-800 number leads to scammers that obtain your personal information such as your name, address, phone number, and potentially your credit card information.


Date:

06/16/2021

Phishing Subject:

UNICEF INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Description:

This phishing email contains information about an "internship opportunity" with UNICEF. The link to apply takes you to a malicious site designed to collect your personal information.


Date:

06/14/2021

Description:

This message appears to be notifying you of a message from Financial Aid. The link to log in to retrieve the message is to a malicious site that obtains your credentials.


Date:

06/04/2021

Description:

This phishing email notifies the recipient of a "work and stud" position. The email goes on to request that interested people should send personal details to a non-SHSU email address for additional details.


Date:

05/26/2021

Description:

This message appears to be from Amazon informing the recipient of a shipment of a recently purchased TV. If the phone number included is called, the bad actor will attempt to collect information.


Date:

05/24/2021

Phishing Subject:

COLLEGE OFFER NEWS!!!!

Description:

This is a phishing email attempting to get you to apply for a work study position by contacting a person in a separate platform for more information. 

Note: No name is in the signature. When you receive an email from someone attempting to get you to change your mode of contact, it is very likely that it is a scam/phishing email. 


Date:

05/23/2021

Phishing Subject:

JOB OFFER

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to apply for a job by sending personal details to a specific email. The recipient will then use this information for fraudulent purposes to include identity theft. 


Date:

05/17/2021

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to send your name, address, phone number and I.D. to receive a $1.9M benefit payment. 

** We all wished these were true but don't fall for this one folks! 


Date:

04/26/2021

Description:

This email appears to be a job opportunity for part time employment. The link to CAREER BUILDER is a malicious Google Doc designed to collect personal information.


Date:

04/17/2021

Phishing Subject:

IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE HR

Description:

This message also could have the subject of "IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE ADMIN."

This message contains, what appears to be, a DocuSign document. The link takes you to a malicious site to obtain your credentials.


Date:

04/17/2021

Description:

This message also could have the subject of "IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM THE HR."

This message contains, what appears to be, a DocuSign document. The link takes you to a malicious site to obtain your credentials.


Date:

04/01/2021

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to click a link to view emails that weren't able to be delivered to your account. 


Date:

03/07/2021

Phishing Subject:

Kindly Review.

Description:

Email attempting to get you to click a malicious link to review a document. 


Date:

02/08/2021

Phishing Subject:

AW: IT-Service

Description:

This message appears to be from the IT Help Desk and requests that you log into Outlook Web Access (a malicious link) to complete your authentication to a new web mail client.


Date:

01/28/2021

Phishing Subject:

GREAT CAMPUS NEWS!!!

Description:

This phishing email is advertising for a job as a Business Assistant for $450 per week.


Date:

01/20/2021

Description:

This phishing email appears to be from Office 365 stating that your password expires today. The link contained is malicious.


Date:

12/30/2021

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to contact their "uncle" using your personal email account.


Date:

12/17/2020

Phishing Subject:

Maintenance Upgrade!

Description:

Phishing email using scare tactics to get you to click a malicious link and use your SHSU credentials to "reconnect" to the SHSU network. 


Date:

12/16/2020

Phishing Subject:

Important Update !!!

Description:

This phishing email states that a system upgrade occurred to free server spaced and urged the recipient to sign-in to confirm their account. The link provided in the email is not a SHSU website.


Date:

11/23/2020

Phishing Subject:

News For Student

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you respond to a fake job opportunity. 


Date:

11/17/2020

Phishing Subject:

HELPDESK

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to click a link to verify your email account for more space. 


Date:

11/10/2020

Phishing Subject:

Executive Errand Services

Description:

Phishing email offering a part-time position saying to contact a specific person instead of continuing to correspond in your protected SHSU email account. 


Date:

11/02/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to click a link for assistance with understanding your retirement benefits. 


Date:

10/26/2020

Phishing Subject:

WORK AND STUDY OPPORTUNITY

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get the recipient to contact a specific person in regards to a work study position.  


Date:

10/26/2020

Description:

Phishing email telling users that use of their email is temporarily prohibited. The only way to get access is to click a link that is malicious. 


Date:

10/21/2020

Phishing Subject:

New 2020 Microsoft Outlook

Description:

Malicious email attempting to get you to click a link to update the Microsoft Web portal. 


Date:

10/08/2020

Phishing Subject:

Your review is required

Description:

This phishing message states that there is an important message concerning late taxes and requests that you click on a link to view documents. The link appears to be a OneDrive link, but it takes you to a page that requests your login information.


Date:

10/01/2020

Description:

This phishing email appears to be from Microsoft and states that your payment method has been changed and an invoice is ready. The links provided in the email direct you to a fake login page where your credentials can be obtained.


Date:

09/22/2020

Phishing Subject:

No Subject Included

Description:

This phishing message contains what appears to be a message from Office 365 indicating someone has shared a file with you. The link to the file is actually a malicious document.


Date:

09/21/2020

Description:

This email contains a malicious Word document attachment and appears to be from a SHSU employee. The message states the document contains details of a recent deposit.


Date:

09/21/2020

Phishing Subject:

Various Subjects

Description:

The subject of this email is not consistent, however most contain the recipient's name. Included in the email is a link to a malicious word document and it appears as though the message comes from a university employee.


Date:

09/14/2020

Description:

A fake email appearing to contain unpaid invoices. When the attachment is clicked you are redirected to a malicious website.


Date:

08/25/2020

Description:

This fake email appears to be from Microsoft with a link to sign in to view an invoice. 


Date:

08/18/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get recipient to open a malicious link.


Date:

08/07/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get the recipient to click a malicious link and fill out and sign a form. 


Date:

08/06/2020

Phishing Subject:

VMessage Notification

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get the user to open a what seems to be a voicemail but is a malicious file.


Date:

08/06/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempted to open an attached word document that then attempts to trick the recipient in to enabling content. 


Date:

08/06/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get the recipient to open a malicious link and complete a form. 


Date:

08/06/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get the recipient to click on a malicious link and provide confidential information.


Date:

07/08/2020

Phishing Subject:

New Service Update !!!

Description:

Phishing email threatening to suspend your SHSU account if you don't click a malicious link provided in the email to confirm your personal SHSU information.


Date:

07/03/2020

Description:

Phishing email acting at IT@Sam attempting to convince you to verify your SHSU email account or you will lose access. 


Date:

06/29/2020

Phishing Subject:

Urgent Notification.

Description:

A phishing attack branded as though it came from the IT@Sam Service Desk and requests you to mark your email as active or face suspension.


Date:

06/18/2020

Phishing Subject:

Quick Request

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to sent a text to the sender. 


Date:

06/12/2020

Description:

Seemingly legit email from Microsoft attempting to get you to click malicious links. 


Date:

06/01/2020

Phishing Subject:

Hello from Emily

Description:

Phishing email using an excuse of needing you to review files by clicking a link that is malicious. 


Date:

06/01/2020

Phishing Subject:

"Attention Required !", "Grades Review Report.", "Urgent Attention Required."

Description:

Phishing email using scare tactics to get you to verify your SHSU account by clicking a malicious link.


Date:

05/22/2020

Phishing Subject:

Urgent Attention Required !

Description:

Phishing email from using an SHSU email address to try to convince you to click a link to avoid having your Microsoft account deleted. 


Date:

05/15/2020

Phishing Subject:

Urgent Action required

Description:

An email appearing to be from the Service Desk requesting you to log in to mark your email active. This message contains university branding elements.


Date:

05/12/2020

Phishing Subject:

Request

Description:

An email appearing to be from Dr. Hoyt requesting the receiver's cell phone number to text a request to.


Date:

05/09/2020

Description:

Emails attempting offering students jobs and attempting to get them to respond using a different email address other than SHSU. 


Date:

05/09/2020

Phishing Subject:

Service Upgrade tonight !

Description:

An email that appears to be from the SAM Center (with SHSU branding) that requests you to mark your email active or face temporary suspension due to a Microsoft update.


Date:

05/01/2020

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to click a malicious link for financial funding. 


Date:

04/28/2020

Phishing Subject:

Case Report.

Description:

An email claiming to have confidential reports made against the recipient attached. The attachment is malicious.


Date:

04/28/2020

Phishing Subject:

Report.

Description:

An email claiming to have confidential reports made against the recipient attached. The attachment is malicious.


Date:

04/27/2020

Phishing Subject:

SERVER SUSPENSION NOTICE !!!

Description:

An email about a Microsoft update to free up server space that requests you to mark your email active by visiting a malicious site.


Date:

04/26/2020

Description:

An email that appears to be a SHSU voicemail message, but has an attached malicious website.


Date:

04/24/2020

Phishing Subject:

Review !!!

Description:

An email that appears to have a shared OneDrive file, but takes you to a malicious URL.


Date:

04/24/2020

Phishing Subject:

Project Review

Description:

An email that appears to have a shared OneDrive file, but takes you to a malicious URL.


Date:

04/24/2020

Phishing Subject:

Kindly Review

Description:

An email that appears to have a shared OneDrive file, but takes you to a malicious URL.


Date:

04/06/2020

Phishing Subject:

Attention Required.

Description:

A malicious email that appears to be from IT@Sam state an unauthorized login attempt was detected. The message requests that you login to activate anti-spam protection.


Date:

04/06/2020

Phishing Subject:

Unusual Sign-In

Description:

A malicious email that appears to be from IT@Sam and states an unauthorized login attempt was detected and asks you to verify and re-login to activate anti-spam email protection.


Date:

04/04/2020

Phishing Subject:

No Subject

Description:

A malicious email that state your email account information needs to be updated.


Date:

04/03/2020

Phishing Subject:

URGENT

Description:

A malicious email that appears to be from IT@Sam that states an unauthorized login attempt was detected.


Date:

04/03/2020

Phishing Subject:

Attention Required.

Description:

A malicious email that appears to be from IT@Sam that states an unauthorized login attempt was detected.


Date:

04/03/2020

Phishing Subject:

Upgrade Notice.

Description:

A malicious email appearing to be from IT@Sam that request you to verify your account.


Date:

04/01/2020

Phishing Subject:

Stay at home job opening

Description:

A phishing email that is offering a stay at home job and requesting sensitive information be emailed.


Date:

03/19/2020

Phishing Subject:

Review and respond.

Description:

Email trying to get you to click a malicious link regarding COVID-19.


Date:

03/17/2020

Phishing Subject:

Review and respond. (COVID-19)

Description:

Phishing email attempting to get you to click a link regarding COVID-19.


Date:

03/17/2020

Description:

Email offering a job with a malicious link to submit an application.


Date:

03/13/2020

Phishing Subject:

Mailbox Storage Limit

Description:

Email suggesting that you are at or over your quota and encourages the recipient to log in to increase their quota limit.


Date:

03/13/2020

Description:

Email trying to get you to log into a website to update and re-enable your computer security.


Date:

03/04/2020

Phishing Subject:

See invoices Paid

Description:

Email from a construction company with an attached PDF that requests log in credentials.


Date:

01/14/2020

Phishing Subject:

GRAET NEWS OFFER!!!

Description:

Scam email trying to get you to contact them for details on a work study opportunity.


Date:

12/14/2019

Phishing Subject:

Must Read This

Description:

Scam email trying to get you to open an attachments and follow steps to apply for position. 


Date:

12/13/2019

Phishing Subject:

SHSU Update

Description:

Phishing email trying to get you to update your SHSU account information through a link.


Date:

12/08/2019

Phishing Subject:

Action Required!

Description:

Phishing email trying to get you to update your SHSU account information through a link. 


Date:

12/08/2019

Phishing Subject:

SHSU Account Update

Description:

Phishing email trying to get you to update your SHSU account information through a link. 


Date:

12/07/2019

Phishing Subject:

Advertisement Program

Description:

Phishing email offering to pay you for wrapping your vehicle with Pepsi Co.  


Date:

12/05/2019

Phishing Subject:

SHSU Email Update

Description:

Phishing email trying to get you to update your SHSU account information through a link. 


Date:

11/28/2019

Phishing Subject:

Campus Notification

Description:

Phishing email claiming to have a part time pet sitting opportunity and requiring you to reply with your personal email.


Date:

11/28/2019

Phishing Subject:

READ

Description:

Single linked SHSU with no other verbiage that will send you to a malicious site. 


Date:

11/28/2019

Phishing Subject:

Message From Human Resource

Description:

Phishing email claiming that you have a message from SHSU Human Resources. Malicious link sends to you to a fake SHSU login site (example).


Date:

11/27/2019

Phishing Subject:

***Earn Extra Cash Weekly***

Description:

Phishing email offering a flexible part-time job that encourages you to click a link to apply. 


Date:

11/20/2019

Phishing Subject:

Payroll Adjustment

Description:

Phishing email that claims to be an encrypted payroll message.


Date:

11/13/2019

Phishing Subject:

Job Opening !!!

Description:

Phishing email offering work from home employment.


Date:

10/17/2019

Description:

Phishing email with a letter "from" Dr. Hoyt containing a PDF that requests your login credentials


Date:

10/17/2019

Description:

Scam email trying to get you to reply to email for a personal assistant opportunity


Date:

10/17/2019

Description:

Phishing email telling you to "Click Here" to find out more about a job opportunity


Date:

10/15/2019

Description:

Phishing email trying to get you to "click here" to confirm your account is still active. 


Date:

10/05/2019

Phishing Subject:

Action Required !!!

Description:

Phishing email trying to get you to click a Sam Houston State University link to update your SHSU account and avoid deactivation


Date:

10/05/2019

Phishing Subject:

Action Required !!!

Description:

Phishing email that advertises an employment opportunity.


Date:

09/17/2019

Phishing Subject:

Information

Description:

Phishing email telling you to "click here" for a grant opportunity. 

Additional Subjects: "Approval Note", "Approve", "Document", "Education Grant", "Important Information", "Notice"


Date:

09/07/2019

Phishing Subject:

Part-time/Job Opportunity!!!

Description:

Phishing email telling you to click a link for a SHSU job opportunity. 


Date:

09/06/2019

Phishing Subject:

MAIL ON HOLD

Description:

Phishing email asking for your SHSU credential after you click "Verify Email."


Date:

09/03/2019

Phishing Subject:

Signed Contracts Review

Description:

Phishing email asking for your SHSU credentials after you click "Preview".


Date:

08/20/2019

Phishing Subject:

Pet Care Opening

Description:

Scam email offering a seemingly legitimate job but would use you as a money mule


Date:

07/16/2019

Description:

Scam email asking you to approve or deny emails to be sent. 


Date:

07/16/2019

Phishing Subject:

Your User Name

Description:

Sextortion scam email trying to extort you for money by claiming that have embarrassing sexual information about you through your computer. 

*Additional Subject: shsu.edu security service


Date:

07/15/2019

Phishing Subject:

Pet Sitter Needed:

Description:

Scam email offering a seemingly legitimate job but would use you as a money mule


Date:

07/09/2019

Phishing Subject:

Your account is being locked

Description:

Phishing email encouraging you to click a link and enter your user information for your Office 365 account.


Date:

06/28/2019

Description:

Phishing emails encouraging you to download and listen to a voice message. 

*Additional Subject: Voice Message Attached from (502-418-7820)