Holmes Beach Police Warn of Outlook Calendar Phishing Scam Targeting Users
The Holmes Beach Police Department is alerting the public to a phishing scam involving fraudulent Microsoft Outlook calendar invitations designed to trick users into revealing sensitive login information.
According to the department, individuals may receive an unexpected meeting request in their Outlook calendar labeled with urgent language, such as a final payroll notice requiring immediate acknowledgment. The invitation may include a PDF attachment featuring a QR code and instructions to scan it for additional details.
Authorities advise that these invitations are not legitimate and are being distributed by cybercriminals. When scanned, the QR code directs users through a brief security check before leading to a fake Microsoft 365 login page. The page is designed to closely resemble the official platform, but any credentials entered are captured by attackers.
The Holmes Beach Police Department notes that scammers are increasingly using tactics beyond traditional email phishing, including calendar-based invitations that rely on urgency and familiarity to prompt quick responses.
Residents are encouraged to avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in suspicious calendar invites. Any unexpected or alarming meeting requests should be treated with caution and reported according to workplace or organizational procedures. Officials also remind the public that urgent language is often used in scams to pressure individuals into acting without verifying the source.
