Protect Yourself from Email Scams: What Our HOA Experienced and What You Should Know
Protect Yourself from Email Scams: What Our HOA Experienced and What You Should Know
If you've ever received an email from someone you know that seemed a little off, you're not alone. Our HOA has dealt with this twice now, and we want to make sure our neighbors are informed and protected.
What Happened
A scammer found board member email addresses listed on our HOA website and used them to create fake accounts designed to look like they came from us. They then sent messages to other residents whose emails were also publicly listed, hoping someone would follow their instructions, whether that meant sending money, clicking a link, or sharing personal information.
Here's the important part: no board member's actual email account was ever broken into. Think of it like someone making a fake name tag with your neighbor's name on it and pretending to be them. Convincing enough to cause confusion, but not the real thing.
How to Spot a Scam Email
A few things to watch for:
The email address looks slightly off (example: treasurerbackup1@gmail.com instead of the official address)
The message asks you to send money, click a link, or share personal information
It creates a sense of urgency or pressure to act fast
Our Policy on Payments
No one from the HOA board will ever ask you to send money via email. We will never ask you to purchase gift cards as a form of payment. Our payment portal is the only authorized way to submit payments. If you ever receive a request for payment outside of the portal, do not act on it. Reach out to us directly to verify.
What We're Doing About It
To reduce the risk of this happening again, we removed Neighborhood watch email addresses from the website. Abby Shepherd is putting together a public facing document and we will update the website once we receive it.
When in Doubt, Reach Out
If something ever feels off, trust that instinct. Contact a board member directly using the official contactSCEHOA@gmail.com directly, not from a suspicious email. We'd rather get an extra call than have a neighbor fall victim to a scam.
Thank you for staying alert and looking out for each other. That's what makes this community great.
Santa Catalina Estates HOA Board