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Miami, FL - Florida International University students are being targeted in a growing scam that pretends to offer high-paying remote jobs through emails that appear to come from school faculty.
University police and tech officials issued a campus-wide warning after several students fell victim to the con.
The scheme begins when students receive emails from what looks like an FIU professor offering a flexible online job.
Once the student responds with interest, the scammers allegedly send a job description and an offer for remote work.
The victim then receives a digital check and is told to deposit it into their bank account.
They are then asked to buy gift cards with the deposited funds and send back the codes.
But by the time banks flag the checks as fraudulent, the scammers have already disappeared.
Authorities explained that the con artists are using a method known as spoofing to make the email addresses seem official.
According to Purdue University, spoofing involves changing the name and address of the sender to make it appear legitimate, which tricks victims into trusting the message.
University police are urging students to be cautious.
They advise never sending money to unknown individuals or accepting job offers that involve depositing checks.
If anything about a message or job offer feels suspicious, students should verify its legitimacy by contacting the school directly through a new email chain.
Anyone who believes they have been affected is encouraged to call FIU Police immediately and report the incident to their bank and university IT department.