UC Santa Cruz Students Targeted in Phishing Attack for Funds

Students at UC Santa Cruz are facing a serious phishing attack aimed at stealing financial aid refunds and disbursements. The university has issued a warning about unauthorized attempts to access student accounts, urging individuals to remain vigilant against these tactics.

According to campus officials, attackers are using various themes in their phishing emails. These include notifications about being dropped from classes, changes to class schedules, grade updates, and statements concerning student identification numbers. The university has provided examples of these phishing attempts to help students identify suspicious communications.

Protecting Your Information

Students are advised to exercise caution and avoid clicking on links that direct them to non-UCSC webpages. Instead, they should access important resources directly through MyUCSC or Canvas. Anyone encountering suspicious emails is encouraged to report them immediately to [email protected].

Additionally, students should consider resetting their UCSC Gold passwords using the CruzID Manager. It is important to verify personal information in MyUCSC by checking mailing addresses and confirming direct deposit details under the account management section.

For further assistance, students can contact the ITS Service Desk at 831-459-4357 or submit a help request. Those with questions about financial matters can reach out to Student Business Services via email at [email protected].

University’s Commitment to Security

Melanie Douglas, the Interim Vice Chancellor for Information Technology, and Brian Hall, the Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Security Officer, emphasize the university’s priority in ensuring that students have access to the information needed to protect their accounts.

Students are encouraged to stay informed about the ongoing phishing attack and to seek support whenever necessary. The university continues to provide resources aimed at safeguarding personal and financial information against these malicious schemes.

By remaining cautious and proactive, UC Santa Cruz students can better protect themselves from these fraudulent attempts and maintain the security of their accounts.