Dear York College Community,
York IT would like to alert all students, faculty, and staff to a phishing email that has recently been circulating and targeting members of the CUNY community.
The fraudulent email claims that recipients must verify their Microsoft 365 (Office 365) account within 48 hours and includes a link to an "Official Site." This message is not legitimate and was not sent by York College, CUNY, or any authorized campus department.
How to Identify This Phishing Email
Please be cautious of emails that:
- Create a false sense of urgency by requiring action within a short timeframe, such as 48 hours.
- Ask you to click a link to "verify" or "validate" your account.
- Use generic greetings such as "Dear Students" rather than addressing you by name.
- Imitate official CUNY or York College communications to gain your trust.
Protect Yourself
To help keep your account and personal information secure:
- Do not click on links or open attachments in suspicious or unexpected emails.
- Never provide your username, password, or multi-factor authentication (MFA) information in response to unsolicited email requests.
- Remember that official York College and CUNY communications regarding your account will direct you to trusted CUNY websites and will never ask you to verify your credentials through an unsolicited email link.
If You Received This Email
If you receive this phishing message:
- Do not click the link.
- Delete the email from your inbox.
- Report the message using the Report Phishing button in Outlook, if available.
If you have already clicked the link or entered your credentials:
- Change your password immediately if possible.
- Contact the York College IT Help Desk as soon as possible so we can help secure your account and prevent unauthorized access.
Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. Your vigilance helps protect not only your personal information, but also the security of the entire York College community. Thank you for taking a moment to review this reminder and for helping us maintain a safe and secure computing environment.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the York College IT Help Desk.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our campus secure.
York IT