FAKE PR EMAILS! BEWARE

Okay, so in my last post, I quickly shared my shock about getting those super convincing fake PR emails from huge brands like Shein, Fenty, and even Dior. But I know a lot of you are probably wondering, 'How can I really tell if it's fake? And what about those specific emails I'm seeing online, like from Tower28 or Summer Fridays?' That's exactly why I wanted to dive deeper into this super important topic! First off, let's talk about the biggest red flags. Remember that 'Diorhuman Resourcescollaboration' email I mentioned? The sender email was diorhumanresourcecollab@gmail.com. This is a HUGE giveaway! Major brands like Dior, Tower28, Topicals, or Summer Fridays will almost never use a generic @gmail.com or @outlook.com address for official PR or HR communications. Their emails will always come from their official company domain, like [name]@dior.com, [name]@tower28beauty.com, or [name]@summerfridays.com. If you see a brand name followed by @gmail.com, it's almost certainly a scam. Always double-check the domain name – it's the part after the '@' symbol. Another thing to watch out for is subtle misspellings or slightly altered brand names. Scammers often use them to trick you. For instance, instead of Dior.com, they might use Diorr.com or Dior-pr.co. These little details are easy to miss when you're excited, but they're critical. Also, be wary of overly generic greetings ("Dear Influencer") rather than your specific name, or emails that pressure you to act quickly. If you receive an email claiming to be from a brand like Topicals (insider@mytopicals.com) or Tower28 (hey@tower28beauty.com), how can you verify it? My go-to method is to never click on links in a suspicious email. Instead, go directly to the brand's official website (e.g., mytopicals.com, tower28beauty.com). Look for a 'Contact Us' or 'Collaborations' section. Sometimes, they'll list their official PR email or a contact form there. You can also cross-reference the sender's name with their LinkedIn profile – legitimate PR managers typically have a strong online presence. What if you get an email about being a 'reviewer' for Ulta, like 'reviewerulta con'? While Ulta does have programs, be extremely cautious of third-party sites or emails not directly from Ulta's official channels. Again, check the sender's domain. If it's not ulta.com or a clearly linked official partner, proceed with extreme caution. If something feels off, trust your gut! So, if you get an email that seems too good to be true – whether it's from a brand you adore or one you've never heard of – take a deep breath. Check the sender's email address, look for misspellings, and always verify through official channels. Don't let the excitement blind you to potential scams. Your safety and privacy are way more important than a PR package! Stay savvy, my friends!