FTC warns of phishing scams using fake digital party invitations

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning the public about a new phishing scam involving fake digital party invitations. These fraudulent messages mimic legitimate services such as E-vite or Paperless Post and may even appear to be sent from known contacts to increase credibility.

The scam typically prompts recipients to enter email addresses, passwords, or verification codes to view event details. The primary objective is to steal login credentials. Once an account is compromised, scammers can use the hacked email to distribute further fraudulent messages to the victim's entire contact list.

According to the FBI, phishing and spoofing were the most commonly reported fraud categories among individuals aged 60 and older in 2025. Experts advise verifying unexpected invitations by contacting the sender through a separate communication channel and treating any request for an email password as a major red flag.