<p></p> <img src="https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/dcr-apis/wp_contents/uploads/DCR-ADMIN/online%20scams.jpeg" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/> <p></p> <p>This scam erupted earlier this year. It’s an online invitation from Evite, Paperless Post or Punchbowl (legitimate companies) and it appears to be from someone you know. Who wouldn’t be tempted to click the link? After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on a fun event. But this come-on is being called a “social engineering attack” because it uses a format you recognize and trust to steal your personal information and possibly your identity.<br><br>I have to admit that I was tempted to click through to see the first invite I received, but I became wary when I noticed the sender’s email didn’t match and the URL looked strange. I wasn’t expecting any invitations from family or friends. When I started getting several of these a week, my suspicions were confirmed.<br><br>When you click the link in the email, it might appear to be broken, but it’s actually a way for scammers to install malware. Alternatively, a live link will ask for your password, which is a red flag. My best advice remains the same: Never click a text or email link without being absolutely sure who sent it. <br><br><strong>Related Articles</strong><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/Guide/Savvy-Consumer/" target="_self">Your Guide to Being a Savvy Consumer</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Get Expert Advice From Owners of Top</a> <a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-expert-advice/" target="_self">Rated Local Companies</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/membership/" target="_self">Become a Diamond Certified Preferred Member (Always Free</a><br><a href="https://www.diamondcertified.org/find-top-rated-companies/hub/ca/san-francisco-bay-area/" target="_self">Find Top Rated Companies in the San Francisco Bay Area</a>&nbsp;</p>