A little warning about online scams and impersonation
I wish I was writing this about something more positive, but unfortunately I've become aware that someone is impersonating me and using my name and portfolio to contact people, in an attempt to scam them.
What really hurts my heart is knowing that all my amazing clients are charities, small businesses and people who put so much time, energy and money into doing good things. These are the very people this individual is choosing to target, using MY name and the trust I've worked hard to build.
I wanted to make people aware, not just to protect my own business, but to help protect others too.
A few tips to help spot a scam email
Scam emails are becoming increasingly convincing, but there are a few things worth looking out for:
Check the email address carefully. Don't just rely on the sender's display name. Check the actual email address and look for unusual spellings or unfamiliar domains.
Be wary of unexpected payment requests. If someone asks you to pay an invoice, transfer money or change bank details, always verify it directly.
Look out for unusual links. Hover over links before clicking and be cautious of unexpected attachments.
Be cautious, even if the website link is genuine. The person impersonating me is using a legitimate link to my real website and portfolio to make their messages look more convincing. Just because a message links to my website doesn't mean it's actually from me. Always check who is contacting you and verify their identity before responding or making any payments.
Trust your instincts. Poor spelling, unusual wording, urgency or pressure to act quickly can all be warning signs.
Verify before you pay. If something doesn't feel right, contact the person or business using contact details you already know are genuine and even jump on a call.
How to contact the real me
If you've found your way here because you like my work and would like to chat about a website project, I'd absolutely love to hear from you!
Please contact me directly through the contact page on this website. This is the safest way to make sure you're speaking to the real me.
And if you've received a suspicious message claiming to be from me, please don't engage with it or send any money. I'd really appreciate you letting me know.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Made by Katie. I'm incredibly grateful for the lovely charities, small businesses and people I get to work with, and I hate that anyone is being put in this position.
Please look after yourselves and each other x
PS: a message to the criminal impersonating me:
Leave my clients alone and stop wasting their time. They all know me too well as we have very good, long standing relationships and they can spot your fake messages a mile away.
