Cybersecurity experts have warned employees to stay alert as fake boss text scams surge worldwide, exploiting trust, urgency and fear to trick workers into transferring money or sharing sensitive information.
The scam usually begins with what appears to be an innocent message from a manager or senior executive, requesting urgent help. But the request soon escalates to demands for gift cards, wire transfers, passwords or confidential documents.
What is a fake boss text scam?
In this scam, fraudsters impersonate senior leaders — such as CEOs, managers or pastors — and contact employees via text, email, phone calls or even AI-generated voice messages. According to Serena Sullivan, an associate professor of cybersecurity at National University, artificial intelligence has made these scams far more convincing.
“Employees don’t want to say no to senior leadership. Scammers exploit this pressure, and AI helps them scrape online data to make messages look authentic,” she explained.
Common ways the scam plays out
Victims may be contacted through:
- Emails mimicking official company addresses
- Texts from unknown numbers claiming to be a boss
- AI-generated voice or video calls
The message almost always demands immediate action and insists on secrecy — a major red flag.
Warning signs you should never ignore
Cybersecurity experts highlight these key red flags:
- A senior leader contacts you directly without prior interaction
- The request is urgent and discourages questions
- You are asked to bypass company procedures
- The email address looks similar but uses a public domain like Gmail
- You are told not to inform colleagues or IT teams
“Processes exist for a reason. Any request that bypasses them should raise alarms,” Sullivan said.
What to do if you receive or fall for one
If you suspect a fake boss scam:
- Pause and verify via official channels like company email or Slack
- Inform your actual manager and IT team immediately
- Change passwords if any information was shared
- Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission
- Warn colleagues, as scammers often target multiple employees
Why awareness matters
Experts say many victims realise the scam too late — especially if they rarely interact with senior leadership. Awareness, verification and refusing to rush are the strongest defences.
As cyber fraud grows more sophisticated, staying cautious at work may be the simplest way to stay safe.