Phish: Remote employment opportunity

Published: November 3, 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 Opportunities for UofT Students and Staff

Dear UofT Students and Staff,

The University of Toronto is pleased to announce specialized remote employment opportunities exclusively for our current students, staff members, and alumni. These positions are designed to provide meaningful professional experience while accommodating your academic and professional commitments.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:

Compensation: $650 per week
Performance Bonus: $50 per completed assignment
Schedule: Flexible hours
Location: Fully remote

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Must be a current UofT student, staff member, or alumnus
Reliable internet connection and suitable remote work environment
Proficiency with standard productivity software
Strong time management and communication skills

MAKING AN IMPACT THROUGH REMOTE WORK:
Inspired by global organizations like [World Vision] that create opportunities for meaningful work regardless of location, these positions are designed to develop professional skills while contributing to important university initiatives.

APPLY NOW

Applications will be reviewed by our hiring manager, John Haines, and selected candidates will be contacted for virtual interviews.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested candidates to apply early as positions are limited.

Best regards,
University of Toronto Employment Services

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

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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