There has been a noticeable increase in variations of the “free piano”/”free toolbox” scam. This scam starts with an email that pretends to be from a UFV employee or their family, and offers a donated item – like an instrument or a tool – for only the cost of shipping.
The scammer will ask you to contact them using your personal email address or text message/WhatsApp (to avoid detection by email security systems). If you send them the “shipping fee”, the scammer disappears with the money, and no item is ever sent.
How to protect yourself from this scam?
- Watch out for the usual red flags of phishing, such as an offer that sounds too good to be true.
- If you receive suspicious emails, forward them to phishreport@ufv.ca.
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