You’re invited to a fancy dinner hosted by your best friend. According to the Evite that just landed in your inbox, it’ll be a great way to connect with your nearest and dearest—maybe even make a new friend or two. There’s just one catch: You’re not invited. Or, rather, you’re invited by scammers to give up your personal information, your money and possibly your identity.
Yup, the bad guys have cooked up a new way to con you.
If you’ve already lost money to one of these online scams, you’re not alone. According to the most recent data from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers lost $15.9 billion to scams in 2025, up from $12.5 billion in 2024. Lois Greisman, associate director of the FTC’s division of marketing practices, testified before the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee on March 25, 2026, saying, “Reported fraud losses have increased year-over-year in the last six years and have risen nearly 430% since 2020.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reports that phishing remains one of the top reported fraud categories, and social engineering scams are rising because they rely on trust, not just tech. That Evite with all your friends on the mailing list? It’s the latest phishing scam, and it’s just the sort of social engineering attack that can fool even the most tech-savvy among us. Keep reading for everything you need to know and the tips to keep you safe.
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How does this evite scam work, exactly?
The evite scam works in an alarmingly simple way. Picture this: You’re scanning your inbox and come across something from Evite, Paperless Post, Punchbowl or another digital invitation service. The message appears to come from someone in your contact list, and the subject says something like “Save the Date!” You’ll see a link to “RSVP here.”
Of course, there is no party and no need to reply.
According to Evite, there has been a significant uptick in phishing scams since the beginning of 2026, and scammers are using Evite’s branding and formatting to trick people into clicking their links. Even Evite says these fake invitations look remarkably similar to its own, and since the emails are spoofed, the invite feels eerily legitimate, like it really is coming from someone you know.
What can happen if you click on one of these scam evites?
If you open the digital invite and don’t click any links, you’re probably fine. But we don’t see any need to linger on a potentially dangerous message. And we can’t stress enough how important it is to never click on a link unless you’re absolutely certain you know the sender. All the cybersecurity experts I’ve interviewed in my many years of covering scams have said the same thing: Never click the link.
But let’s say you already did. What are you in for?
- It looks like a dead link: Some victims have reported that the link does nothing when they click on it. That doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. While it might appear like a dead link, it may be installing malware on your computer.
- It’s a working link: If the link sends you to a site that prompts you for a password, consider this a major red flag. You’re potentially giving hackers the ability to change your passwords and get into your email, bank accounts and more. This makes it easier for these bad actors to steal your money and your identity.
How can you tell an evite is fake?
The fake evite takes advantage of the human desire to be included, and parties with friends are the last place we might expect to be scammed. We’re more likely to have our guard up when it comes to tax scams or job scams—places where money is exchanged and where you might have to share your Social Security number—and not an innocent-sounding happy hour or baby shower.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to tell if an evite is a ploy:
- The sender’s email doesn’t quite match. Look past the name to the actual address. Evites, for instance, always come from evite.com, while Punchbowl invites come from a punchbowl.com address.
- You weren’t expecting an invite from this person. Be especially cautious if the evite is out of character.
- The link URL looks off. Hover over a button or link before clicking and look for misspellings or extra characters. Phishing emails are notorious for sending victims to a phony but just-similar-enough URL.
- There are generic or vague event details. “Party” and “Event” are suspicious in this context, and a lack of specifics is a red flag.
- There’s a sense of urgency or pressure to RSVP quickly. Any time you see a sense of urgency on the internet, take a minute to look more closely.
- The login page appears unexpectedly. Real invites don’t usually require you to sign up or log in just to view details.
- Ask your friend. When all else fails, reach out to the person who allegedly sent the invite. Ask them whether they sent an electronic invite and confirm the details.
How can you tell if your computer is compromised?
It’s not always easy to tell if your computer has been compromised, mostly because malware is designed to be invisible. This is why running a scan is critical, even if everything seems fine.
Here are some signs to look out for:
- Slower performance
- Programs opening/closing on their own
- Browser redirects
- Unknown logins or password-reset emails
What should you do if you’ve clicked on one of these evites?
If you’ve clicked on an evite link, it’s important to act quickly. Here’s what to do in this order:
- Disconnect from the internet (if you suspect malware).
- Run a scan using reputable antivirus software.
- Change passwords—especially for email and bank accounts.
- Mark the evite as spam and report it as a phishing email.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- Monitor your financial accounts.
- If it looks like a scammer mimicked a friend’s email address to send you the fake evite, notify that person so they can secure their account.
- Consider freezing your credit.
- Report it to the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
The bottom line: Scammers know how humans work. They play on our need to be included (an invite, yay!), reassure us with familiarity (it’s from an old friend!) and know that most of us won’t check the tiny details (eh, it’s probably fine!). Your best defense against these bad guys is slowing down and trusting your gut. If something about the evite seems fishy, a party won’t make it better.
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Federal Trade Commission: “The Rising Scam Economy: Modernizing Federal Approaches to Protect Americans from Foreign Fraudsters”
- Federal Bureau of Investigation: “FBI Releases Annual Internet Crime Report”
- Evite: “Is that Evite real or a phishing scam? How to tell the difference”
The post You’re Actually Not Invited—That Evite Is a Scam, but These Tips Will Keep You Safe appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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