BBB Warns of 'Boss Text Scam' Targeting New Employees with Gift Card Fraud

The 'Boss Text Scam' Explained

• 🎯 A new and frightening scam, dubbed the 'Boss Text Scam,' is targeting new employees by impersonating their supervisors.
• 💡 Scammers obtain employee information from public sources like LinkedIn and Facebook to make their impersonations convincing.

How the Scam Unfolds

• 📱 Employees receive a text message, often appearing to be from their new boss, asking them to perform an urgent task.
• 💳 The request typically involves purchasing gift cards (e.g., Google Play cards) for a significant amount, like $100 each.
• ✉️ Victims are instructed to scratch off the back of the cards and send images of the revealed codes to the scammer.

The Victim's Experience

• 😮 Ireina Derek, a new remote employee, was asked to purchase $300 worth of Google gift cards.
• ⚠️ She complied, only to discover she had been duped when she followed up with her actual boss in a group chat.

Verifying Employer Communications

• 🔍 The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises verifying any requests from employers, especially those involving financial transactions.
• ✅ Always confirm the authenticity of texts or emails from your employer through a separate, known communication channel before taking action.
• 💰 Awareness is key to preventing these scams and avoiding financial loss.