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Phish Bowl

The Phish Bowl features examples of phishing emails received by members of the University of Toronto (U of T) community to help you identify and report suspicious emails.

If you have received any of the phishing emails below or other suspicious emails, please report it to report.phishing@utoronto.ca and delete it immediately from your mailbox. Don’t click any links, download attachments or engage with the sender. Please do not forward or share the email with your colleagues and other contacts.

Learn more about what to do if you suspect a phishing attempt.

[Phish] RE: Urgent Student Payment Reminder
By Arathi Devadas
January 26, 2023
Details: Subject: RE: Urgent Student Payment Reminder Dear student, Our records show that you have not made your payment for the 2022-3023 Fall-Winter session.   Please make your payment by the end of this week to avoid a service charge It is strongly recommended that you make regular payments to reduce the balance on your student ...

[Phish] University of Toronto Email Validation–ID-cdlhyuey63
By Arathi Devadas
November 3, 2022
Details: Subject: University of Toronto Email Validation–ID-cdlhyuey63 Hello, This email is to notify all students and staff that there is email validation exercises. We will need you to confirm that your email is still in use. If you don’t want your e-mail account to be terminated during the exercise, Send “Utoronto Email Validation” to {malicious ...

[Phish] Vacant position: virtual personal assistant.
By Arathi Devadas
May 30, 2022
Details: Subject: Vacant position: virtual personal assistant. We have an open position for a Virtual Assistant, that is you work remotely,performing various tasks and office support duties. COVID-19 considerations: Job is primarily remote at this stage. Application question(s): What experience (personal or professional) of yours do you think best matches this position and why? Work ...

[Phish] Re: UofT Personal Assistant ! Boidurjo Das
By Arathi Devadas
January 26, 2022
Details: Subject: Re: UofT Personal Assistant ! Boidurjo Das

[Phish] You have got an urgent message from the University of Toronto.
By Arathi Devadas
January 20, 2022
Details: Subject: You have got an urgent message from the University of Toronto. Text: Dear User, This is to let you know that our web-mail server will be upgraded and maintained soon. If you don’t want your e-mail account to be terminated during the upgrade, Send “UTORONTO–UPGRADE” to *malicious phone number inserted here* You will ...

[Phish] 50141497*** Received -TSID: Powells WellCare Received on January 3, 2022, 3:22:33 PM
By Education and Awareness team
January 4, 2022
Details: Subject: 50141497*** Received -TSID: Powells WellCare Received on January 3, 2022, 3:22:33 PM Text: New Voicemail Received. Date received Monday, January 03, 2022 Caller Number *Malicious number inserted here* Duration 00:00:54 Reference 1783-829-66312TD   To listen to this voicemail, click on the attachment in this email.*Malicious link attached as voicemail*

[Phish] You have got an urgent message from the University of Toronto.
By Education and Awareness team
November 25, 2021
Details: Subject: You have got an urgent message from the University of Toronto. Text: Dear User, This is to let you know that our web-mail server will be upgraded and maintained soon. If you don’t want your e-mail account to be terminated during the upgrade, Send “UTORONTO–UPGRADE” to *malicious phone number inserted here* You will ...

[Phish] Open position:customer support representative,apply now.
By Education and Awareness team
November 19, 2021
Details: Subject: Open position:customer support representative, apply now. Text: A customer support representative position is available, with a decent weekly salary and the ability to work remotely. *The job will only require 1-2 hours of your time every day, Monday through Friday or on weekends. The ideal candidate will be dependable, timely, and trustworthy. POSITION: ...

[Phish] [IMPORTANT]: University of Toronto recruiting department.
By Education and Awareness team
November 19, 2021
Details: Subject: [IMPORTANT]: University of Toronto recruiting department. Text: Hello Selected candidate, We received your resume application via the University recruiting department, offering a part time position for Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduating Students, Staff or retired, this will only require 1-2hrs 3 days a week, no work experience or skill is required. You can ...

[Phish] Mail Update on 18 November, 2021
By Education and Awareness team
November 18, 2021
Details: Subject: Mail Update on 18 November, 2021 Text: This message is from a trusted sender. *Fake Office 365 inserted here* 1 Voicemail Message Received You have receive 1 VoiceMail from a caller in your contact. Date received: 18 November, 2021 Duration: 00:01:14 Message can only be accessed by *fake email address inserted here* after ...