Understanding the Bizarre World of Workplace Scams
Written on
Chapter 1: The Unexpected Email
As I was preparing for my day at the office, my phone vibrated with a notification. It was an email that appeared to come from a partner at my law firm, simply asking, "When are you getting into the office?" At first glance, it seemed harmless—perhaps he needed something urgent.
However, upon further inspection, I realized this was not an email from my colleague. The display name may have matched someone from our firm, but the email address was a random Gmail account (something amusing like [email protected]). I promptly marked it as spam and continued with my day. Upon arriving at the office, I discovered that nearly all my coworkers had received the same message.
What was the purpose of this email? It didn’t seem to target our firm's cybersecurity; it merely inquired about my arrival time. Was it an attempt at kidnapping? If so, why target the whole office?
The answer is both amusing and ridiculous: the "threat actors" behind this ruse aimed to scam individuals out of gift cards.
Section 1.1: The Gift Card Scam
The so-called Gift Card Scam (a name I coined) is a type of social engineering aimed at convincing employees to buy gift cards and send the codes to the scammers.
If the recipient fails to notice the suspicious sender, they might respond. The scammer, posing as a supervisor or colleague, might reply with something like: “I’m currently in a meeting and unable to take calls, but please purchase Apple gift cards for our clients right away. Send me the codes, and I’ll ensure you get reimbursed. This is urgent.”
(Side note: If my phishing email skills were judged on grammar, I might excel!)
Most individuals recognize that their boss wouldn’t make such a request, or they would seek confirmation. After all, what clients truly need Apple gift cards on short notice?
Subsection 1.1.1: Recognizing the Red Flags
Section 1.2: The Importance of a Calm Response
Unfortunately, some individuals do fall victim to these Gift Card scams, which is exactly why they persist. Sometimes they succeed. However, you can fortify your defenses by adhering to a simple principle.
If a message triggers anxiety and elevates your heart rate, take a moment to: Breathe, Pause, Review.
Scammers thrive on creating urgency and exploiting the resulting stress. No matter how silly the scam may appear, it can succeed if you're not thinking clearly.
When your boss sends a message demanding something immediately, it's natural for your heart rate to rise as you rush to complete the task. But if you apply the golden rule, you can take a moment to ask yourself: Would my boss genuinely need gift cards in a hurry? This simple reflection could prevent a costly mistake.
Always remember to take a brief moment to assess requests that cause you stress. That single second of evaluation could save you from becoming a victim.
Chapter 2: Real-Life Scenarios
In this video titled "Your Work Confessions," the narrator shares personal experiences with workplace scams and highlights the importance of vigilance.
Another insightful video, "We Went INSIDE Of A Scam Call Center And Physically Hacked Them!" dives deep into the world of scammers, showcasing their methods and how to defend against them.