Office of Information Technology
February 16, 2023
Tags Phishing Email (on campus)

Available? scam (Operating expenses)

Phish Bowl Alerts

"I need a few minutes of your time" is a variation on the "Available?" phish sent by someone posing as a known authority, such as a department chair or administrator, and asking for a quick favor often involving the purchase of gift cards. It's an example of a Business Email Compromise (BEC), described by the FBI in their article as "one of the most financially damaging online crimes."

From: Steven Rasmussen <p.holt4@ntlworld.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 15, 2023 at 12:11 PM
Subject: Operating expenses
To: Josiah_Carberry@brown.edu <Josiah_Carberry@brown.edu>

Hi Josiah

I need a few minutes of your time to handle an urgent request. I'd
appreciate it if you could acknowledge this after you've received it, so
that I can provide you with specific guidance on how to proceed.

Best Regards,
Steven Rasmussen, MD
Chairperson