August 4, 2026
It's 3:40 on a Thursday afternoon. Your phone buzzes with a text from a number you don't recognize.
"Hey, it's Dave. I'm in back-to-back meetings and can't call. I need a quick favor. Can you run out and grab 5 gift cards for a client thank-you? $100 each. Keep it quiet, it's a surprise. I'll square up with you today."
Dave is your boss's name. The tone sounds like him. And you're new enough that saying yes feels a lot safer than saying no.
Here's the truth: that text is not from Dave. And this exact script separates employees from their own money every single day across the country.
Why It Works on Smart People
The scammer didn't hack anything. They looked at your company website and found the owner's name. They looked at LinkedIn and found yours. They may even know you just started, because you posted about your new job. Thirty seconds of research is all this scam requires.
Then they lean on three pressure points: authority (it's the boss), urgency (right now, I'm stuck in meetings), and secrecy (keep it between us). Each one is designed to stop you from doing the one thing that kills the scam: checking.
The Four Tells
- A new or unknown number. "I lost my phone" or "this is my personal cell" is the standard cover story.
- Gift cards, wire transfers, or payment app requests. No legitimate business runs on employees buying gift cards. Ever.
- Urgency plus unavailability. They need it NOW, but they conveniently cannot take a phone call.
- Secrecy. "Keep it quiet" is never about a surprise. It's about keeping you away from the people who would recognize the scam.
The One Rule That Beats It
Any unusual request involving money, gift cards, or secrecy gets verified by voice. Call your boss at the number you already have, or walk down the hall and ask in person. Not a reply text. A real voice.
Here's the part every employee should hear from their boss directly: you will NEVER be in trouble for verifying. A real manager will thank you. Only a scammer gets pushy about being questioned. If checking makes the person angry, you have your answer.
If You Already Replied
It happens, and there is no shame in it. These scripts are written by professionals who do this all day. Stop responding immediately. Tell your manager and whoever handles IT, even if it's embarrassing, and especially if any money moved. Speed matters far more than blame. A company culture where people can raise their hand fast is a company that loses less.
Owners: Make This a Policy, Not a Hope
Tell your team, out loud, that you will never ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or secret payments by text. Then tell them verification is always welcome. That five-minute conversation at your next staff meeting is free, and it closes the door this scam walks through.
Want your whole team trained to spot these automatically, with friendly simulated tests and plain-English coaching? That's what we do for businesses across the region. Book 20 minutes here and we'll talk about it. No pressure, No Geek-Speak.
Big U Computers, LLC. Personal Service, Peace of Mind, No Geek-Speak, and We Won't Hold You Hostage. That's the promise.
