Rockhurst University said in a statement it was the target of a phishing scam.
The school notified 1,300 people who were employed by the university during 2015 about a data breach that resulted in a third party's theft of their personal information, according to a statement from the university.
The statement says criminals obtained IRS W2 forms through a targeted phishing scam in which a university administrator’s email address was impersonated. The university contacted local and federal officials as soon as the breach was discovered.
The statement says Rockhurst University has also made arrangements to provide assistance to those whose data was compromised.
"I'm angered that someone chose to victimize our institution and the good people who contribute to its important work," the Rev. Thomas B. Curran, S.J., president of Rockhurst University, said in a statement. "Our university will continue to work expeditiously to minimize the harm resulting from this security incident and to keep everyone who was affected informed about all of the resources available to them."
The university’s statement said the school learned this scam is becoming increasingly common, especially during the tax return preparation season.
For more information, you can view the statement online.
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