As members of the IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) community, we are part of a global network of professionals driving innovation. Unfortunately, this makes our community, and IEEE, a target for cybercriminals. From "urgent" requests for payments or gift cards, to copycat conference names, to fake  registration links, email, text messaging, and voice call fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Staying vigilant is our best line of defense. Here is what you need to know to stay safe.

Common Red Flags: What to Look For

Fraudulent  contacts—often called phishing—are designed to look like they come from a trusted source, such as the IEEE, SPS leadership, or a fellow researcher. Watch for these indicators:

• Urgent or Threatening Language: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency (e.g., "Your membership will be terminated in 24 hours" or "I need you to process this payment immediately while I'm in a meeting")
• Suspicious Sender Addresses: Check the "From" field carefully. A legitimate email from IEEE will typically come from an @ieee.org domain. Be wary of addresses like ieee-support@gmail.com or president@ieee-sps-updates.org.
• Generic Greetings: Instead of using your name, scammers often use "Dear Member" or "Valued Professional."
• Unexpected Attachments or Links: Never click a link or download a file from an unsolicited email. Hover your mouse over any link to see the actual destination URL before clicking.
• Requests for Non-Standard Payments: IEEE and SPS will never ask you to pay for dues or services via gift cards, wire transfers (like Western Union), or cryptocurrency.
• Requests for Payments to IEEE Volunteers: These messages are frequently fraudulent.  Ignore any appeals for urgency and contact the volunteer directly using a known valid email address or by phone to confirm.

How to Report Suspicious Emails and Messages

If you receive an email or message that looks suspicious or claims to be from IEEE but seems questionable , do not engage with it. Follow these steps to report it:

1. Do Not Click: Avoid clicking any links, opening attachments, or replying to the sender.
2. Forward to IEEE: Forward the suspicious message as an attachment (this preserves the message headers, which help IT experts track the source) to the IEEE Contact Center at contactcenter@ieee.org.
3. Contact SPS Staff: If the email specifically impersonates SPS leadership or concerns a society-specific event (like ICASSP or ICIP), you can also notify society staff at webmaster@signalprocessingsociety.org
4. Delete and Block: After reporting the email, delete it from your inbox and empty your trash folder.

Stay Informed

The Society is committed to the security of our professional community. When in doubt, always verify requests through official channels. You can log in to your official IEEE Account to check your membership status or pending invoices safely.

By remaining skeptical of unsolicited requests, you can protect your personal information and the integrity of our Society.