Watch out for phishing emails
Scammers have been impersonating district leaders and club presidents, asking them to send money via Zelle, buy gift cards, and call the District Leader. Learn what to watch out for:
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Over the past few years, some members across Toastmasters Districts have received emails (known as "phishing"). The most recent phishing email was supposedly from the district director in your district, asking a member to send money through Zelle, buy gift cards, or call them.
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This is an example of a phishing email sent to members of a District:
Please be aware:
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District Leaders will only contact you to ask for money or to purchase items for the district if you are working on a committee, have talked to the leader, or are otherwise aware of the need in advance.
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When conducting district business, leaders will contact you using the district email domain @tmd56.org or their known Toastmasters email.
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For example, our District Director, Elizabeth Ruiz, sends emails from her District Director email, dd@tmd56.org, or her dedicated Gmail Toastmaster email, toastmasterruiz@gmail.com. She has her branded Toastmasters email signature at the bottom of each email. If you receive a suspicious email, please look at the email address from which it was sent.
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The district rarely asks a member to purchase something and get reimbursed. We have a budget, credit cards, and a Finance Manager who takes care of anything needed for the district, ensuring we have the necessary resources for our operations.
If you receive an unusual or suspicious email, please forward it to dd@tmd56.org. We will review and confirm if it is a legitimate message. You can also report phishing emails to your email application. For example, here's how to report a suspected phishing email in Gmail:
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Open the email.
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Click the three vertical dots in the upper right corner.
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Click Report phishing.
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Click Report Phishing Message. ​​​​​
What to do if you suspect a scam
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Slow down. Pause, take a breath, and think it through.
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If someone claiming to be a friend or family member calls asking for money for an emergency, hang up and contact that person on a number you know. Artificial Intelligence can easily clone a person's voice.
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Contact the company the person claims to represent, Cal your bank, or call the police if it doesn't seem right.
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Consult with a friend or family member your trust.
Someone you don't know is asking you for money. Remember, it's your right to confirm things no matter how urgent anyone says it is. You're in charge when it comes to your money.
For more details, please review the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice page: How to Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams. ​​​​​​