Malicious and Hateful Emails Targeting Stanford Affiliates (03/30/2023)
What Happened
An unknown person used the email addresses of four Stanford affiliates to fraudulently send them emails with misogynistic, anti-Black, and violent language. By using functions enabled in a departmental webform, a person triggered emails to four individuals to make it seem like the Stanford office messaged them with “Dear (hateful and violent language)” instead of saying "Dear (their name).” The individuals received anywhere from two to a dozen of these violent emails. One of the targeted individuals identifies as a Black male and three of the affiliates identify as Asian women.
Using email to threaten and target people is a form of intimidation. This incident is being investigated by the Department of Public Safety.
What Is Being Done
Updated as of 04/21/23
Two PIH reporting incidents were filed; one by the Department of Public Safety and one by a targeted community member.
Student Affairs staff reached out to and met with one of the targeted community members.
This incident has been reported to the Department of Public Safety and to University Information Technology. This is being considered a crime of identity theft where hate speech was used.
Because this conduct is being investigated as a crime, it is not considered protected speech and the person(s) who engaged in the conduct could be subject to legal or disciplinary action.
What to Do
- If you have any information that may assist with this investigation, call DPS at 650.329.2413 (24/7) and ask to speak to an investigator.
- Students needing assistance are invited to reach out to these mental health resources and faculty/staff can reach out to the Faculty Staff Help Center.
- Self-care equals community care. If you want to learn more about sexism, anti-Black racism, or anti-Asian hate and how you can address it, visit the Stanford Against Hate website.
If you experience bias or discrimination, please file a Protected Identity Harm report.
