New phishing scam targets your FOMO with fake party invitations
A new phishing scam exploits FOMO by sending fake party invitations that mimic legitimate platforms like Paperless Post, Evite, and Punchbowl. These emails often appear to come from real contacts with compromised accounts, increasing their credibility. Clicking the links can either install background malware or prompt users to enter login credentials, giving hackers access to personal accounts. Experts advise caution with vague or unexpected invites and recommend verifying suspicious messages.
- ▪The phishing emails impersonate real invitation services and may come from compromised accounts of acquaintances.
- ▪Clicking the malicious link can either silently install malware or lead to fake login pages that steal credentials.
- ▪Cybersecurity experts note the scam leverages fear of missing out (FOMO) to prompt quick, unthinking action.
- ▪Paperless Post has created a dedicated email address for users to report and verify suspicious invitations.
- ▪Vague language like 'birthday party' or 'celebration of life' is a common red flag, according to Evite's brand VP.
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Home > Tech New phishing scam targets your FOMO with fake party invitations Be on the lookout for vague party invites in your inbox from long-distance accquaintances. By Chance Townsend Chance Townsend Editor, General Assignments Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones. Read Full Bio on April 28, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard Credit: twomeows/moment/Getty Images Phishing scams have always tried to trick you into clicking malicious links, often relying on scare tactics — fake bank alerts, IRS threats, parking tickets, the works. The new playbook is a little more devious: They're targeting your FOMO instead.According to a report from the New York Times, a new wave of phishing scams is now disguising itself as party invitations, spoofing the look of popular invitation platforms like Paperless Post, Evite, and Punchbowl. In some cases, the phishing emails actually come from someone you actually know — a former colleague, an old college friend, a distant relative — with a compromised email account. That makes them significantly harder to clock as fake. You May Also Like (() => { window.videoEmbeds = window.videoEmbeds || []; let data = {"excoPlayListId":"6825f5751ad7f3226d4a8257","excoPlayVideos":{"13e369aa-a866-4e32-8e98-8416433c6b90":"029ZzVzPagzDvF1FJwrFeLV","30a383a5-cfc4-5cd2-a400-5eef0283b3aa":"00kq1Vai61xLQUinOnJmWg6","4095868a-f6e9-47c8-bc9d-69ad12acdfa1":"050uXAlVz4WMbwBQca6mMdu","4c81fe9b-77f2-4418-a170-01c0e19b24bb":"03nfLbWPZpBePCNiLaZMN5G","58aa56c8-1e82-405b-9023-304095081f32":"02KdbFreHcduhN63XQzPWsM","5b2f74c0-2c2a-590e-ab1e-f5434bd887c9":"00ROgJpW3pk0KkaPHbiXc1S","600545bb-3f89-56c4-aeb8-00cde64684d0":"03PGp8xPImnYqi3o7hvwUzP","601d59ef-0d4e-5ca4-9b28-ade749f574e9":"04JtV6dUEaZk8NpZ32UeQkW","65051092-af32-569f-bb39-f4f8bea33568":"05iCffKwdDJNG7hvejfaFGL","73e558d0-1e6b-414b-8334-1110d944572e":"02ojszZBj0dzhTEetVktgUI","76641b3a-d509-4dfe-8625-a005b7769314":"06axVsboJSG5vpGesKo4qOm","79b487bd-a873-4c3a-817b-94773263d53c":"052PUeoUtkIThx1RTwC68Yj","8ab38a03-58bc-4f4e-b286-868b4b7e48fe":"00z7iAfqbseEVM0TmhxZZOu","a49f2024-b5ff-4120-9ffd-9c9e48b7a74c":"02H9BjndG18FN3wdeC3P1TI","a8b7dd96-8b56-5f2c-82a5-9b74f7ba17b3":"028XTiHutnDFFTdL1w5l0t2","aa621ab7-8ee6-4216-aacf-12117a9c320c":"05QwNhvHnnayT86v8mTBEN2","b9bebd5b-5483-4db3-8b77-64e22b7ffe6e":"00UD6VY7ciEyfarSysdMGAr","c9bdeb88-62e1-590c-8321-dde146114a61":"02m9Khspstz6KoioebNyA7l","f299c48b-5022-43f9-be79-a2f56e72343f":"010ky7mdN8l8C6COdMArC4h","f676fc29-97e9-4b34-b8de-60a5af4e6a03":"01gIdCRLU1VGizBEEThNNm3"},"title":"","videoPlayerType":"related-contextual","titleOverride":"You May Also Like"}; data.excoPlayListId = '6825f5751ad7f3226d4a8257'; data.excoPlayListVideos =…
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