Campus News

UK ITS Phishing Alert: False Job Announcement

An example of a phishing email
An example of a phishing email.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 11, 2020) — University of Kentucky Information Technology Services (ITS) has been made aware of an email scam where the sender asks you to apply for a job opening. This scam attempts to convince the recipient to email for more information. The phishing email appears to come from a compromised UK email account.

We ask that you share this warning and remind colleagues not to provide information, click on links or attachments in emails that are unexpected and/or from unfamiliar people, and never send money or gift cards without verifying the recipient.

How to detect a potential scam:

  • Poor syntax and/or grammar.
  • An unspecified sender.
  • Links that ask you to click onto a non-uky.edu address for “secure verification.”
  • A fake reply address e.g., UKexecutive@gmail.com, UKexecutive@yahoo.com, etc.
  • Job offers that ask for money up front.

If you use Microsoft Outlook and receive one of these or similar phishing emails, please click on the “Report Message” button in the top right corner of the message window. For more information on how to Report a Message, click here.

If you believe you have become compromised from this email, please click here.

ITS appreciates assistance to curtail the spread of phishing communications.

For 24/7 immediate assistance, please contact ITS Customer Services at 859-218-HELP (4357). For assistance with non-urgent matters, email 218help@uky.edu.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.