Party Invite Phishing Scams Are the New Missed Connections
Email scams that look like an Evite or Paperless Post invitation are meant to snatch your data. For some, they've become an excuse to reconnect with old friends or flames.
A New York-based journalist received a barrage of emails about a party he never organized, leading him to believe he'd been victim to a phishing scam. The Federal Trade Commission had issued a warning about scammers impersonating popular invitation platforms like Evite or Paperless Post and requesting sensitive information to view event details or RSVP.
While Umansky thought he had taken necessary precautions, such as using two-factor authentication, he later discovered that this type of scam had a surprising outcome. Instead of causing distress, the fake party invite sparked conversations with old acquaintances and reignited long-lost relationships. In a survey, researchers found that people were more willing to reach out to old friends when given a legitimate reason to do so, even if they were unsure about the response.
This led to the reconnection of people who hadn't spoken in decades, often over casual meetups or virtual calls. While scammers continue to exploit AI and social engineering techniques to manipulate victims, these scams have inadvertently created opportunities for individuals to reconnect with others. However, the FBI warns that scammers are still highly successful, with Americans losing $21 billion to such scams in 2025 alone.
Despite the potential benefits, caution is advised, as scammers can still cause significant financial harm.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
