Fake Email and Social Media Accounts Target Rotary Members in New Scam

In case you believe that they won't hit people like us, I have already received 3 of these messages.  Please be careful.
 
From: Rick Kick <fraudreport@rotary.org>
Subject: Fake email and social media accounts target Rotary members in new scam
Date: October 19, 2018 at 14:05:41 AKDT
Reply-To: Rick Kick <fraudreport@rotary.org>
 
Rotary.org
 

Dear Rotarian,

Rotary recently learned that scammers have created multiple communication and social media accounts that impersonate RI President Barry Rassin, RI President-elect Mark Maloney, General Secretary John Hewko and perhaps other Rotary leaders. The communication accounts include or involve email, WhatsApp and Viber.  The social media accounts have been on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

These are not authentic Rotary communications. They are phishing and spoofing attempts to obtain money and personal information.  The perpetrators may attempt to convince Rotary members to send funds to support alleged Rotary causes.

Rotary monitors for and responds to these attempts as part of an ongoing effort to keep member, program participant, and staff data safe. We also work with LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and WhatsApp to remove imposter accounts.

Neither President Rassin’s, President-elect Maloney’s, nor General Secretary Hewko’s authentic accounts have been compromised.

Rotary members should continue to exercise caution:
  • Disregard any suspicious message that offers money, requests money, or asks for your personal information.
  • Avoid opening attachments or following links in suspicious messages.
  • Pay close attention to the details of the email address and signature block to verify the sender.
If you receive what you believe to be a suspicious message from the president, general secretary, or another Rotary leader, please forward it to fraudreport@rotary.org and then delete it immediately.

Regards,
Rick Kick 
Chief Information Officer, RI 

CC: Rotary club presidents and secretaries