Caution: Email Scam Attempts Continue
We are issuing an urgent alert regarding recent sophisticated phishing attempts targeting our organization's members. We have received reports of scammers impersonating members of our board via email, asking recipients to make purchases on behalf of the group with the promise of reimbursement.
Please be extremely vigilant and question any suspicious emails or text messages, especially those requesting financial transactions or personal information.
Here's what you need to know about these specific scams and other common phishing tactics:
Recognizing the "Board Member" Scam:
- Impersonation: The emails often appear to come from a legitimate board member's name, but upon closer inspection, the email address will be slightly different or from a non-organizational domain (e.g., @gmail.com, @yahoo.com).
- Urgency/Secrecy: The messages may create a sense of urgency or ask you to keep the request confidential.
- Request for Purchases: They will typically ask you to buy gift cards, make wire transfers, or purchase other items, promising immediate reimbursement. Our board members will NEVER ask you to make purchases on behalf of the organization and promise reimbursement via email or text. All official financial requests will follow established procedures.
Other Common Phishing Scams to Watch Out For:
- Fake Invoices/Bills: Emails containing attachments that appear to be invoices from well-known companies (e.g., Amazon, PayPal, utility providers) but are actually malicious.
- "Account Locked" or "Suspicious Activity" Alerts: Messages claiming your account with a bank, social media platform, or online service has been compromised and asking you to click a link to verify your details.
- Shipping Notifications: Emails or texts with fake tracking information, often containing links that lead to malicious websites.
- Government Impersonation: Scammers posing as IRS, Social Security, or other government agencies, threatening legal action if you don't provide personal information or make payments.
- Unexpected Prize/Lottery Wins: Messages informing you that you've won a large sum of money or a prize and asking for personal details or an upfront payment to claim it.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Verify the Sender: Always check the sender's email address carefully. Even if the name looks familiar, a slight misspelling or a different domain can be a red flag.
- Hover Before You Click: Before clicking on any links, hover your mouse over them to see the actual URL. If it looks suspicious or doesn't match the 1 expected website, do not click.
- Never Share Personal Information: Be wary of emails or texts asking for your passwords, bank account numbers, Social Security number, or other sensitive information. Legitimate organizations will rarely ask for this via email or text.
- Be Skeptical of Urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting without thinking.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you receive a suspicious email or text, do not reply to it.
- If it claims to be from a board member, contact that board member directly using a known, verified contact method (not by replying to the suspicious email) to confirm.
- Forward phishing emails to chapter leaders to inform us of the attempt.
Your vigilance is our best defense against these scams. By staying informed and cautious, we can protect ourselves and our organization.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.