Before You RSVP, Make Sure the Invitation Isn’t a Scam

Beware of “You’re invited” texts and emails from friends or family; the only ones having a party are the scammers who send them. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is seeing a rise in reports of consumers receiving fake invitations. But the invitations are only inviting trouble if you engage with them.

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How it works

• You receive an unexpected text or email that looks like it's from a well-known invitation platform like Evite or Paperless Post.
• The message might list someone you know as the host, but it asks you to enter your email username and password to view the event details.
• Other versions direct you to enter your phone number and share a special passcode to RSVP.

What you should know

• If you provide this information, the scammer can take over your email account and send the exact same scam to your contact list.
• Real online invitations do not require you to log into your email account or share a temporary security code just to see the details.
• Scammers are trying to steal your email account login credentials or trigger an unauthorized password reset to break into your account.

What you should do

• Set your computer and phone software to update automatically so your devices can defend against the latest security threats.
• Enable two-factor authentication where it’s offered. It adds an extra layer of security, making it  harder for criminals to log into your email account even if they steal your username and password.\
• If you receive an unexpected invite, resist the urge to click. Instead, check with the host directly through a separate call or text to make sure it’s real.
• Act quickly if compromised: If you think a scammer has your email information, change your password as soon as possible – and let your email contacts know an invitation from you is a scam.