Suspicious Email Invites From Friends? How to Spot Phishing Scams
Getting unexpected email invitations from contacts could signal a phishing attack. Here's how to tell the difference before you click.
You open your inbox and there they are — two shiny email invitations, both from people you actually know. Your first instinct is to feel a little special. Your second instinct should be suspicion, because phishing scammers have gotten very good at hijacking real contact lists to make their traps feel personal.
The core trick is simple: a bad actor compromises one of your friend's email accounts, then blasts out invitations or links to everyone in that person's address book. Because the sender name is familiar, your guard drops. That's exactly what they're counting on. The emotional hook — flattery, curiosity, a sense of exclusivity — is the payload before the payload.
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Before you click anything, run a quick checklist. Does the invitation ask for login credentials or payment info right away? Does the link URL match the supposed organization sending it? Is the message oddly vague, with no specific event details? Legitimate invitations typically come with context. Vague ones that just beg you to "click here" are red flags screaming for your attention.
The smarter move is to reach out to your friend directly — not by replying to the suspicious email, but through a separate channel like a text or phone call. Ask them point-blank: "Did you send me something?" If they didn't, their account may already be compromised, and they'll want to know fast so they can lock it down and warn others.
Staying skeptical isn't paranoia — it's just good inbox hygiene in 2024. Treat unexpected invitations the same way you'd treat an unmarked package at your door: verify before you open it. Continue reading at MarketWatch.com
