UC Santa Cruz Students Targeted by Phishing Attack for Financial Aid

Students at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) are currently facing an active phishing attack that aims to steal financial aid refunds and other disbursements. Cybercriminals are attempting to gain unauthorized access to student accounts through deceptive emails that exploit common university-related themes.

Phishing Tactics and Alerts

According to a notification from the university’s administration, phishing emails have been reported that use various alarming subjects. These include notifications about being dropped from classes, changes to class schedules, grade updates, and statements regarding student identification. The university urges students to remain vigilant and cautious regarding these communications.

Students are specifically advised not to click on links leading to non-UCSC websites. Instead, they should access relevant platforms directly through MyUCSC or Canvas. If students encounter suspicious emails, they are encouraged to report them immediately to [email protected].

Protecting Your Information

To enhance security, students should reset their UCSC Gold password using the CruzID Manager. Additionally, it is crucial for students to verify their personal information directly through MyUCSC. They can confirm their mailing addresses and direct deposit information by navigating to the respective sections: MyUCSC > Personal Information > Addresses and MyUCSC > My Account $ > Sign up for Direct Deposit.

For further assistance or inquiries, students can contact the ITS Service Desk at 831-459-4357 or initiate a help request. For issues specifically related to financial transactions, the Student Business Services can be reached at [email protected].

In their communication, Melanie Douglas, Interim Vice Chancellor for Information Technology, and Brian Hall, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Information Security Officer, emphasized the university’s commitment to safeguarding student information. They are working diligently to ensure that students have the necessary resources to protect their accounts effectively.

Students are encouraged to remain alert and proactive in safeguarding their personal and financial information during this phishing attack. For more details on the nature of these phishing attempts and additional security tips, students can visit the university’s official website.