Rail operator branded crass after worker bonus email is phishing test
West Midlands Train emailed 2500 of its staff promising a one-off payment as a gift for their hard work during the pandemic
10 May 2021 • 3:57pm
West Midlands Railway had sent the email as a phishing exercise to test their employees cyber security proficiency
A railway union has branded a train company “crass” after it sent out an email to thousands of its employees promising a pay bonus but was actually a “phishing test” to check its cyber security.
West Midlands Trains emailed 2,500 of its workers with a message offering a one-off payment as a “gift” to “inspire” them to keep up the “good work” during the pandemic
Someone at West Midlands Trains approved nasty cybersecurity drill
Laura Dobberstein Tue 11 May 2021 // 07:58 UTC Share
Copy
UK rail operator West Midlands Trains sent an email to 2,500 employees to thank them for hard work during COVID and promised a one-time bonus as a reward, but that lovely news turned out to be phishing training. Needless to say, it did not go over well.
The deliberately inauthentic email first thanked staff for their hard work, then added: We realise that a huge strain was placed upon a large number of our workforce as a result of COVID-19 . and we would like to offer you a one-off payment to say thank you for all of your hard work over the past 12 months or so.
A train company that serves Worcester has been criticised for a cynical and shocking stunt after sending an email to staff promising the front line workers a bonus only to later reveal it was a cyber security test. West Midlands Trains (WMT) emailed staff to tell them they would get a financial reward for their hard work during the Covid pandemic. Staff were invited to click on a link for information of your one-off payment . But the company sent a further email to those who opened the link, explaining that this was a test designed by our IT team . A union described it as crass and reprehensible behaviour .
The TSSA claimed the promise of a bonus was sent to 2,500 members of staff.
West Midlands Railway has sent frontline staff a fake bonus email Manuel Cortes, the union s general secretary, said: This was a cynical and shocking stunt by West Midlands Trains, designed to trick employees who have been on the front line throughout this terrible pandemic, ensuring essential workers were able to travel. The company must now account for their totally crass and reprehensible behaviour. They could and should have used any other pretext to test their internet security. It s almost beyond belief that they chose to falsely offer a bonus to workers who have done so much in the fight against this virus.
West Midlands Trains sparks fury by offering staff cynical fake bonus in security test
The Cross City Line operator told staff they would receive a financial reward due to their hard work during the Covid pandemic
Updated
Latest news email updates straight to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Subscribe
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice
The train firm running Birmingham s Cross City Line has been condemned for a using a cynical and shocking stunt after it offered employees a fake bonus in a cybersecurity test.