University staff and students have received messages, where the University email server notifies users about failed message deliveries. This notification is due to an e-mail message that you have not sent yourself and which has not, either, been sent from the University e-mail service. The sender in these messages is displayed as “Mail delivery subsystem”.
What are these fraudulent messages about?
A malicious party has falsified the e-mail addresses of University staff and students to sent e-mail messages. This party has then sent scam and phishing messages in the name of the University from an external system outside the University.
This is a major ongoing issue, as these hundreds or even thousands of such fraudulent messages have been sent. Some of the messages have probably been delivered and a minority of them have not reached recipients. These failed scam messages are now causing “normal” Mail Delivery Failed messages being delivered to University staff and students’ email addresses.
Follow these instructions of you receive one or more of the messages outlined above:
- Delete the messages. Do not respond to them!
- You do not have to worry about your own email account being compromised. These fraudulent messages are not an indication that your University username or password has been compromised.
We are currently resolving the issue. If you have any questions regarding the situation, please contact IT Helpdesk:
- Chat (weekdays 9–15, chatbot 24/7): helsinki.fi/helpdesk
- Call: 029 41 55555 (weekdays 9–15, local network charge / mobile call charge)
- E-mail: helpdesk@helsinki.fi