The IEEE Signal Processing Society (SPS) is a global network built on collaboration. To foster this open environment, the names and roles of our leadership, editors, and dedicated volunteers are proudly displayed on our website. Unfortunately, cybercriminals frequently scrape this public information to launch highly targeted attacks—a tactic known as "spear-phishing."

Recently, we have seen an increase in scammers impersonating SPS leadership, including Society Presidents, Editors-in-Chief, and Technical Committee Chairs, to target our broader community of members, authors, and volunteers.

By posing as high-ranking figures or respected colleagues, scammers hope that your willingness to assist will override your natural caution. Whether you are a long-time volunteer, a contributing author, or a new member, here is what you need to know about leadership impersonation scams and how to protect yourself.

How the Scam Works

The scam usually begins with a brief, seemingly harmless email or text message. The sender uses the name of an SPS President, an Editor, or a colleague you may know. Their goal is to initiate a conversation, establish trust, and quickly pivot to a fraudulent request.

Common scenarios include:

• The "Quick Favor" Routine: A message reading, "Are you available? I need a quick favor but I am heading into a board meeting." If you reply, they will ask you to purchase gift cards for an "event" or "colleague reward."
• The Fake Urgent Invoice: A fabricated request sent to a committee member, event organizer, or society affiliate to urgently wire funds or pay a fake vendor invoice for an upcoming conference.
• The Bogus Manuscript/Data Request: An email posing as an Editor-in-Chief asking an author or reviewer to download an attached "urgent manuscript" or click a link to review data. This often contains malware or leads to a fake login page designed to steal your IEEE credentials.

Specific Red Flags to Watch For

When you receive a request from an SPS leader or editor, pause and look for these warning signs:

• Mismatched Email Addresses: This is the biggest giveaway. The sender's name might display correctly, but if you expand the "From" field, the actual address will be a free service or a slightly altered domain (e.g., president-ieee-sps@gmail.com or editor@ieee-sps-org.net instead of an official @ieee.org address).
• Bypassing Official Platforms: Legitimate editorial requests for authors and reviewers will always be routed through or reference official portals like ScholarOne. Be highly suspicious of "editors" sending manuscripts directly as unsolicited attachments.
• Unusual Requests for Financial Help: An SPS President or Editor will never ask you to personally purchase gift cards, wire money, or handle society finances through unofficial channels.
• High Pressure and Secrecy: Scammers frequently claim they are "unavailable by phone," "traveling," or "in a meeting" to prevent you from verifying their identity, while simultaneously demanding immediate action.

How to Protect Yourself and the Society

If you receive an unexpected or unusual request from someone claiming to be part of SPS leadership:

• Verify Independently: Do not reply to the suspicious email. Instead, reach out to the person directly using a known, trusted email address from the IEEE directory, or contact them via phone or an official messaging platform.
• Double-Check the Sender: Always click on or hover over the sender’s display name to reveal the actual underlying email address.
• Report the Attempt: Forward the suspicious email as an attachment (this preserves the message headers) to the IEEE Contact Center at contactcenter@ieee.org.
• Notify SPS Staff: Because these attacks target our specific organizational structure, please also notify the Society staff at webmaster@signalprocessingsociety.org so we can monitor trends and alert the community if a specific leader's name is being actively spoofed.

Our members, authors, and volunteers form the backbone of the Signal Processing Society. By staying vigilant and taking a moment to verify unexpected requests, you can protect your personal information and help keep our global community secure.