Villanova Recent Scams and Advisories

March 2024

You may receive a message that says you were charged hundreds of dollars to renew your Geek Squad membership. If you want to dispute the charge or cancel your membership, the message says you must call a phone number within 24 hours.

If you call the number — which you should not do — scammers may ask for your bank account information to refund your money, then fake a transaction and make it look like they accidentally refunded you too much. To pay them back, they tell you to buy gift cards and give them the gift card numbers and PINs.

If you have fallen for a scam, visit Tips: What to do if your identity has been compromised? to learn next steps. 

October 2023

Subject:  SUPPORT/ GOODDAY/ Job Opportunity

From: Villanova Student Email Address

The malicious users are impersonating Villanova email addresses with various scams that require you to copy and paste URL's into your browsers. 

Scam Examples:

• Office 365 log-in scams threatening termination of access if the URL in the email is not verified.
• Job Opportunities that require you to click on a link for a generous amount per/week compensation. 

To learn about other possible scam themes, visit the Common Scams knowledge based articles for more information. 

July 2023

Subject:  [EXTERNAL] Opportunity To Own A Piano

From: 

Please be aware of Grand Piano donation scams that has been brought to our attention. The malicious user is enticing the university employees by offering a piano donation as long as the university covers the shipping costs.

To learn about other possible scam themes, visit the Common Scams knowledge based articles for more information. 

April 2023

Subject:  [EXTERNAL] 2023 Assistance Program Eligibility

From: robyn.gorringe@sunshine.org

Please be aware of an Employee Benefit Scam that has been brought to our attention. The malicious user is enticing the employee to click on a malicious link in order to submit an application to receive monetary assistance.

To learn about other possible scam themes, visit the Common Scams knowledge based articles for more information. 

March 2023

To address product vulnerabilities, Apple has released multiple security updates. Visit the Computer Security Checklist to learn how you can frequently update your computer and browser settings to protect against malicious users and device compromise.

March 2023
Smishing is a type of phishing attack that uses social engineering to get personal information about someone using text messaging. While a text may seem perfectly normal, it could be from someone with malicious intent, someone who wants to steal your identity, your bank account number, or other sensitive information. Read more about Smishing Scams and how you can protect yourself  from being scammed. 

January 2022

We have seen an increase in emails spoofing Villanova email addresses. Any email with the [EXTERNAL] tag coming from what appears to be a professor’s Villanova email address is NOT legitimate — [EXTERNAL] tag in the subject identifies email sent from outside the University system.

Legitimate work or research opportunities will never include emailed requests for personal information. Any e-mail asking for such data, even if it appears to be from a reputable source, is most likely a phishing attempt.

• Cease all communications with the sender.

• Do not reply to the sender through personal email or phone.

• Do not provide the sender personal or financial information.

• Report the Phish

September 2022

Never purchase gift cards in exchange for promised services or reimbursement. Gift cards are for gifts, not payment!