Snapchat Responds to Phising Scam

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A Snapchat employee accidentally sent employees' personal information outside the company, and it has caused embarrassment. Snapchat has faced privacy concerns in the past, and now its own employees may question the company's security. 

The employee responded to a fake email that looked like it came from CEO Evan Spiegel. This is a common phising scam, which according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is when "internet fraudsters impersonate a business to trick you into giving out your personal information." The FTC gives these examples of phising emails; we have all seen something similar:

  • "We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity."
  • "During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn't verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information."
  • "Our records indicate that your account was overcharged. You must call us within 7 days to receive your refund."

Snapchat responded with an apology to its employees, posted on its blog: 

Snapchat apology

Discussion Starters: 

  • What are some clues that an email address is fake? 
  • Assess Snapchat's apology: word choice, tone, content, organization, and so on.