Phish: Remote employment opportunity

Published: August 21, 2025

These emails promote fake remote job opportunities related to the university. They lure recipients with promises of high pay, flexible hours and minimal requirements – all typical in employment scams.

The scam asks you to click a suspicious link and does not provide any job details. The sender uses a non-U of T email address (e.g., Gmail or Telegram) and requests your bank details to deposit a fraudulent cheque. Victims are then asked to buy gift cards or similar items. Once sent, the cheque is cancelled and the victim loses money.

Email details

Subject:

Remote Employment Opportunity – Work for UofT from Anywhere

Dear UofT Students and Staff,

The University of Toronto is excited to announce remote employment opportunities available to current students and staff members. These positions offer a convenient way to earn additional income while balancing academic or professional commitments.

Position Details:

Pay Rate: $650 per week
Bonus: $50 per completed assignment
Schedule: Flexible hours
Location: Fully remote

Requirements:

Must be a current UofT student, staff member, or alumnus
Reliable internet connection
Basic computer proficiency
Strong time management skills

How to Apply:
Click the button below to submit your application:

Apply Now

Applications will be reviewed by our hiring manager.

For questions, contact UofT Employment Services.

Best regards,
University of Toronto Employment Services

This opportunity is exclusively for University of Toronto students and staff.

Phishing cues

Generic language
- Non-personalized greeting.
- No mention of specific departments, job roles or responsibilities.
- Vague terms like “remote employment opportunities” designed to appeal broadly.
Inconsistent with university practices
- There are no links or references to U of T’s official job board (https://clnx.utoronto.ca/ or https://jobs.utoronto.ca/). All job opportunities are posted through these sites and have a corresponding ID for the role(s).
- The “apply now” button is vague and leads to a Google Form.
  - U of T will typically ask you to apply through the job boards, or through Microsoft Forms, requiring you to log in with your U of T account.
Suspicious contact information

The email address is not a legitimate domain used by the university and does not match the sender’s domain.
Too good to be true
- $650 per week and $50 per assignment for basic tasks with no clear job description is highly suspicious.
- Real university jobs are posted through formal HR channels and offer standard pay rates.

Report phishing

If you receive a suspicious email, do not open attachments or click on links. Report phishing attempts to security.response@utoronto.ca.

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