In a concerning trend targeting colleges and universities, cybercriminals have launched a new and sophisticated phishing campaign using Google Forms—designed specifically to deceive students, faculty, and staff across higher education.
What’s Happening?
Attackers are circulating convincing Google Forms designed to look like they come directly from trusted university departments. These fake forms use real school names, color schemes, logos, and even mascots to create a false sense of legitimacy. The attackers aim to trick unsuspecting recipients into revealing their:
- University account credentials
- Financial aid or bank login information
In many cases, the scammers claim the form is needed to maintain access to a school account or to distribute financial aid—two urgent matters that naturally compel fast action.
Timing the Attack
What makes this scam particularly dangerous is its timing. These fraudulent forms are typically sent out around key dates in the academic calendar—especially financial aid deadlines—when students and staff are overwhelmed with paperwork and may overlook red flags in a rush to complete important tasks.
This strategy increases the likelihood of success for the scammers, who rely on urgency and familiarity to bypass recipients’ usual caution.
Why Higher Ed?
Higher education institutions are often soft targets for cybercrime. With large populations of young users, multiple account systems, and complex administrative workflows, attackers can exploit a lack of centralized communication and digital literacy gaps to launch scams like this with chilling effectiveness.
What Can You Do?
- Double-check email senders and URLs. Even if the form looks official, verify its legitimacy through your university’s official portal or IT department.
- Never enter financial or login information into Google Forms. Legitimate institutions rarely, if ever, use this tool for sensitive credential collection.
- Report suspicious activity. If you receive a questionable form, report it to your school’s IT security team immediately.
Stay Informed
Cybersecurity threats are evolving—and so should our awareness. Stay vigilant and share this warning with your campus community to help protect against these increasingly deceptive scams.
For more information, see the original report by Lifehacker: Beware This Sophisticated Google Forms Scam
