No matter what your working relationship is, getting an email or message from your boss is usually a reason to stop what you’re doing and respond—even if it’s after work hours. But depending on what the text says, you may want to take a second to make sure it’s really your supervisor who’s communicating with you. That’s because the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning that there’s one type of message from your boss that could be the sign of a scam. Read on to see what kind of text or email is a major red flag.
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Authorities warn that a new type of scam is making the rounds that can appear very authentic. In most instances, it involves receiving a text message or email from your boss or supervisor from your workplace, local Chicago NBC affiliate WMAQ reports. The first communication can even use names to make it feel even more real, along the lines of: “Hi Chris, I’m tied up in a conference call right now but let me know if you get this text. Thanks [your boss’ name].”
The scammer will message you back with a request if you respond to the text. “Whatever the reason, they’ll ask you to help by paying them with gift cards, promising to pay you back later,” the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) writes in a warning. “But once you hand over the gift card number and PIN, the money is gone.”
According to the FBI, this…
