NEW YORK (AP) — Madison Square Garden says an email led employees to believe they were selecting a Knicks championship ring but instead, a phishing attempt was an “unfortunate mistake.”
The company added Friday that more than 275 players and employees will still receive rings as planned.
Knicks players received the rings they won for winning the NBA championship Tuesday night before their season-opening loss to Philadelphia. On Thursday, The Athletic reported that assistant coaches did not receive rings that evening.
The report also states that in September, MSG employees received an email stating, “Congratulations, your employee championship ring is here.” » It showed a graphic with two styles of rings that could be selected, but those who clicked the link at the bottom of the email were required to attend a required cybersecurity course.
“The company had previously sent an email to its corporate team to simulate a phishing attack intended to strengthen our security against hackers. MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee ID and password obtained in a similar phishing attack. Using the rings as a lure to attract employees’ attention was an unfortunate mistake,” a Madison Square Garden spokesperson said in a statement.
“The company is donating more than 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches, staff and other members of the Knicks family, valued at more than $3.7 million, in recognition of their contributions and to celebrate this accomplishment.”
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