Gift and Donation Scams

Gift and Donation Scams

Some frequently reported scams targeting Kent State University as of lately are gift and donation scams. In this type of phishing attack, scammers send messages that appear to be from individuals or organizations offering to donate high-value items like pianos, guitars, welding equipment, or other expensive goods. These emails typically appear generous, urgent, and are framed as an act of kindness.

While the premise may sound appealing, these messages are not genuine. Scammers use these fake offers to manipulate victims into paying for fake shipping and handling fees, often before the victim realizes there was never an item to begin with.

How Does it Work?

Once the recipient expresses interest in the fictitious item, the scammer will claim that the item needs to be shipped and that the recipient must pay a fee for transportation or insurance.

After the payment is made, the scammer will either continue attempting to receive further payments or cut communication entirely.

What Can You Do?

A good rule of thumb for avoiding these scams is: if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Never call or contact someone you aren’t familiar with. You should avoid sharing personal details with individuals that you do not recognize. True donations or gifts also do not require payment up front. Click here to learn more about the common red flags in phishing emails. In the event that you or someone you know may have already paid a scammer, fraud recovery information can be found here. Whenever possible, we urge you to report any suspicious messages to our team at phish@kent.edu!

Examples

Here are some examples of what these phishing attempts may look like:

In this image, the scammer attempts to gain sympathy by manipulating you and appealing to your emotions, in hopes that you respond to the fake donation.

This example depicts a situation where the scammer will add an attachment to the email to make it seem more legitimate. The message was also sent from a compromised account at another university. Scammers use compromised accounts in order to appear more trustworthy. You can learn more about risks associated with external email here.