Routing #: 291480141
FRAUD TIPS
HOME > EXPLORER NEWS >
SCAM OF THE WEEK: Don’t Let Malware Crash Your Party
February 12, 2026 | Knowbe4.com
In this week’s scam, you receive an email invitation that appears to be from Punchbowl, a popular website for sending digital greeting cards and party invites. The email includes an invitation to an event and instructs you to select a link to see more details. It might even include a note suggesting you open it on a laptop or desktop computer for the best experience.
However, this is actually a phishing scam! The email is not really from Punchbowl, and you haven’t actually been invited to anything. If you select the link in the email, it will download malware, or malicious software, onto your device. This software can give cybercriminals control of your device and let them steal your private information!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this phishing scam:
- Check the sender's email address. If the invite comes from a personal email account or a strange-looking web address, it is not a real Punchbowl invitation.
- Beware of odd requests, like being told to open an invitation on a specific device. Hackers often use these instructions to bypass security and install malware.
- Always use caution if you receive an unexpected email, especially if it instructs you to select a link. If you receive a suspicious email, be sure to report it!
