RALEIGH — Attorney General Jeff Jackson is warning North Carolinians about fake email invitations.

“This time of year is full of reasons to celebrate, but scammers are taking advantage of it,” Jackson said. “If you get an unexpected invitation via email, do not click any links or type your password to open the invitation.”

Scammers are sending fake invitations that appear to come through reputable platforms like Evite, Paperless Post and Punchbowl. Remember:  

* Real invitations will always come from the business’s official email domain, such as @evite.com, @paperlesspost.com or @punchbowl.com.

* These platforms will never ask you for your password or a code to access the invitation, and they will never ask you to download anything.

* You can learn how legitimate email invitations appear from reputable platforms’ websites: Evite, Paperless Post, Punchbowl.

Scammers want you to click on the invitation’s link and then enter your email login information so they can gain access to your email account. If they are successful, they may change your login information, access sensitive information in your inbox, and send fake invitations to your contacts.

If you receive an unexpected email invitation, do not click on the links or download attachments. Instead, verify with the party’s host via text or phone to see if it is legitimate. If it is not a real invite, report the email as spam/phishing to your email provider. After reporting the email, move it to your spam folder or delete it if the email provider doesn’t automatically make that change.

If you suspect someone has access to your email, take these steps:

* Create a new, strong password immediately. When possible, opt for passkeys over passwords for stronger protection.

* Enable two-factor authentication to further protect your account from unauthorized log-in attempts.

* Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov and the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division at www.ncdoj.gov/complaint for specific guidance on protecting your other potentially compromised information.

* Notify your contacts that your email was hacked and tell them not to open any links or attachments claiming to be from you.

Don’t let hackers dampen the celebratory spirit this summer. Watch out for email invitation scams.

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