Phishing Alert- Employment Scam
Below is a an example of a phishing scam from an attacker pretending to be a game studios. The attackers used this fake job offer to collect personally identifiable information.
Dear Victim,
We are genuinely impressed by your performance in the interview process at GameCloud Studios. Your exceptional abilities, as reflected in your outstanding interview scores, have met our exacting standards. Your unique skills and perspective are highly valued, and we are genuinely excited to welcome you aboard. We anticipate the significant contributions you will make to our team.
Project Manager (Remote) Offer:
After thorough consideration, we are pleased to offer you the Project Manager (Remote) position on our team. This role offers the flexibility to work remotely, access to various resources, and opportunities for professional growth. GameCloud Studios is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Your unique perspective and skills, which we highly value, will significantly enhance our team. We are equally dedicated to supporting our employees with the necessary training to excel and achieve their career objectives. This blend of flexibility, support, and inclusivity represents our commitment to your professional development and success in your new role.
Your role with our company will begin on May 19th, 2025, starting with a compulsory, intensive, and comprehensive one-week training session at 9:00 AM CT each day. This training and our ongoing commitment to your professional development will give you the essential skills and knowledge for your position. We are dedicated to supporting your career growth, ensuring you have the necessary resources and opportunities to thrive in your role and achieve your career aspirations.
Compensation:
According to our standard payroll schedule, your initial salary will be $67 per hour, and you will receive $35 per hour during the one-week training period. Our flexible working hours, ranging from 30 to 40 hours per week, prioritize a healthy work-life balance yet require task completion and deadline adherence.
Benefits:
You will have access to company-sponsored benefits, including paid time off, premium health and dental insurance, employee wellness, profit sharing, and ownership of remote workstation equipment. Visa sponsorship is available for eligible candidates. This position offers a $500 training incentive, which will be disbursed with your remote workstation equipment payment after you sign the offer letter and before training begins, and a $2,500 sign-on bonus after training completion. Moreover, you will be eligible for periodic incentive bonuses in addition to your salary.
Mandatory Compliance Training:
We are committed to ensuring you receive the necessary support and training to transition into your role. For this remote role, we require you to complete mandatory compliance training focused on our systems, infrastructure, internal policies, and Code of Conduct. This training will familiarize you with our company’s operations and ensure you understand and adhere to our policies and standards. Our team will facilitate the training through Microsoft Teams, CISCO WebEx, and other video conferencing and collaboration tools. During this period, the onboarding manager will assess your performance and fit for the position, which the training managers will determine based on your grasp and application of the training content and your ability to meet established standards and deadlines.
The evaluation process will begin with pre-training onboarding tasks, which the Onboarding Team will communicate and guide you through. We are committed to offering constructive feedback and support to aid your success in this position. Upon completion of the training period, the onboarding team will conduct a thorough performance review to evaluate your readiness and highlight any areas for further improvement.
Employment Documents:
If you accept this offer, you will receive your offer letter in your email as soon as we get your acceptance email. Furthermore, after you sign and return the offer letter, all other necessary documentation related to this position, including employment contracts and company policies, tax documents, government forms, employee handbook, direct deposit authorization form, emergency contact information form, payroll and benefits form, non-disclosure agreement, and an employment form detailing your work history, education, and personal data, will be conveniently delivered to your address via regular mail.
Next Step:
To proceed with the onboarding process and receive your offer letter in your email, kindly reply to this email confirming that you accept the offer and are prepared to move forward. Additionally, please provide the below details to facilitate the following steps and ensure the successful delivery of your employment paperwork through the mail. Please note that you formally accept the offer by replying to this email. Once we receive your acceptance, we will send you the offer letter and the next steps in the onboarding process.
Full Name:
Address:
Email Address:
Phone Number:
Accurate information is essential for a smooth transition into your new role and for processing the employment paperwork, including your offer letter. This offer is a prerequisite for receiving your offer letter in your email and all other necessary employment documents and company-branded materials. Please respond promptly to prevent any delays or complications in your onboarding process.
We are thrilled to welcome you to our team. We are excited about the potential positive changes you will bring and do not doubt that your contributions will be crucial.
Congratulations on joining us!
Best regards,
HR Onboarding Manager
GameCloud Studios, Inc.