Even BBB staff almost fell for this clever email con! Watch out for this latest twist in a long line of phishing emails that look like messages from workplace software. This scam email impersonates an alert from your office’s project management software.
How the Scam Works
You receive an email to your work address. It looks official, like a message from your office’s project management software. It alerts you that you’ve been added to a new project team, and your “director” is urging you to “follow up on this team urgently.”
Worried about missing a deadline, you click on the message. Unfortunately, that’s all it takes to inadvertently grant access to your computer or download malware to your system. This can give con artists access to sensitive information such as passwords, financial data, or personal details about employees.
How to Avoid Workplace Email Scams
- Be suspicious of unsolicited emails. If you think the correspondence is real, confirm it by going directly to the website, rather than clicking a link. At work, check with your supervisor before joining any new groups.
- Be wary of generic messages.Scammers will try to pass off a short email as harmless, hoping you'll click quickly without thinking. Phony emails posing as messages from office scanners, printers, IT systems, and other software are common.
- Don’t give in to fear. Scammers want you to panic and take immediate action. Don’t fall for it! Stay vigilant, ask questions, and do your research before making a decision.
For More Information
To find out more about how phishing scams work and how to avoid them, at BBB.org/PhishingScam. Go to BBB.org/SmallBusiness for resources and advice just for small businesses.
To learn more about scams, go to BBB.org/ScamTips. If you’ve been targeted by this scam, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker.