Social engineering attacks are a type of scam where an attacker uses human interaction to gather or compromise information about an organization or its computer systems. Below is an example of a social engineering attack in the form of a job scam:
- A scammer contacts you pretending to be a job offer and wanting to set up an interview.
- The scammer sends you software to download as part of the interview. This “software” is malware in disguise.
- The software will not work for you. If you try contacting the interviewer, they may promise to investigate and follow up but will not contact you again.
In this type of scam, the goal was to get you to install malware disguised as software for an interview. If you installed the malware, the scammer succeeded and will no longer be in contact with you.
Job Scam Red Flags:
It is important to understand the difference between a real job offer and a job scam. Job scams have several red flags including:
- Suspicious links or attachments
- High weekly pay
- Low hours
- Lots of flexibility
- Short timelines
Learn more about job scams on our cybersecurity website.
If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam or need assistance, please contact the UWM Help Desk.