‘An unfortunate mistake’: Knicks admit error in using championship rings as phishing bait

The New York Knicks’ parent company says it is giving out more than $3.7 million worth of championship rings and jewelry after acknowledging an “unfortunate mistake” of using an offer of free rings to lure employees into a cybersecurity test. As first reported by The Athletic, the email said employees were eligible for a free Knicks championship ring. Instead, clicking on the offer earned them a mandatory cybersecurity training, the outlet reported. “The company had previously sent out an email to its corporate team as a simulation of a phishing attack designed to strengthen our security against hackers,” Madison Square Garden Sports said in a statement.

“MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack.” The company said it is giving players, coaches, employees and others in the Knicks organization more than 275 rings and pieces of jewelry worth more than $3.7 million. NFL Network host Rich Eisen criticized Knicks owner James L. Dolan over the email on his show, saying: “The man is phishing his own employees with a bait of a championship ring. Can you be any worse of an employer? Can you be any lower than that?” The Athletic also reported