New York Knicks sent employees a fake offer of championship rings as part of a phishing test, according to a report by The Athletic. The email, sent at the end of September, showed two ring designs — Championship Gold and Garden Classic — and promised personalized rings at no cost. Multiple team sources confirmed the email was a phishing test, though it's unclear how many employees clicked the link.
Madison Square Garden did not respond to requests for comment. The ruse raised hopes among longtime MSG employees, some of whom were told they would eventually receive rings while others would not. After the article was published, the New York Post reported that an MSG spokesperson called the test an "unfortunate mistake" and confirmed plans to gift more than 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches, employees, and other Knicks family members, worth over $3.7 million.
The statement also noted that MSG had recently been hacked and extorted using credentials obtained through a similar phishing attack.
Source: Ars Technica · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing