This phony email is allegedly from a UC Berkeley professor, offering a fake internship scam if the applicant would provide additional details.
One of the items they will require is a scan of the applicant's Cal-1 ID card. The Cal-1 card should be handled like any other sensitive document (credit card, driver's license, etc.). You should never be asked to email it to a prospective UCB recruiter.
What makes this a phishing message?
No legitimate campus job or UCB faculty member will ever offer a position using a non-UCB email, a private cell phone number, Instagram, or WhatsApp.
Email is not a secure form of communication, and sensitive documents or scans of ID cards should not be requested.
A Cal-1 ID card includes a Student ID (SID) number and barcode. The card allows access to campus buildings and services, access to Berkeley Dining meal plans, access to the Berkeley shuttle, and a place to add funds to use at select locations.
Tips if Something Seems Off:
The initial offer and all communications are from a Gmail email address.
You will never be asked to send money online to any account as part of a real campus job.
Follow up with the sender separately
If you didn’t expect it, reject it. Or follow up with the individual directly in a separate email or call/text to confirm.
Report and/or flag it
- Open the message
- To the right of the 'Reply' arrow select 'More' (typically denoted with three vertical dots)
- Then 'Report phishing'
- For suspicious messages received by text, please take a screen shot and forward the message to phishing@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail) For more information visit https://security.berkeley.edu/resources/phishing
Original Message:
