Dear members and student affiliates,
We want to remind everyone to remain vigilant about common email scams, including messages claiming to sell or share membership email lists and phishing attempts.
Membership list scams
A common fraudulent practice is selling phony or stolen email contact lists. In this type of scam, individuals receive unsolicited email offers to purchase an organization’s mailing list for marketing purposes.
We have been made aware that some unscrupulous parties claim to have Editors Canada mailing lists available for sale. Here’s an example of one such fraudulent offer:
From: Indie R** <**@gmail.com>
Subject: Editors’ Association of Canada
Hi,
I’m following up if you’re interested to get the Distribution/Members List.
- Editors’ Association of Canada 2026
- Toronto, Canada
- 1,000+ Contacts
It’s a great opportunity to connect with decision-makers and industry leaders.
Let me know if you’d like the pricing and full details — happy to share.
Hoping to receive your reply soon.
Warm regards,
Indie – Business Executive
While the scammers may have gathered some info from various online sources (including the internet archive), the goal is to con people into spending money on poor-value, outdated lists gathered using unscrupulous means.
Editors Canada does not sell or distribute member contact lists to third parties. Editors Canada respects the privacy of its members and safeguards their contact info. We are committed to applying privacy principles to allow members to participate fully in association activities without compromising personal information. For more information, see our Privacy Policy and Privacy Guidelines.
Phishing scams
Phishing emails are fraudulent messages designed to look legitimate. They often appear to come from trusted organizations or individuals and may ask you to click a link, open an attachment, or provide personal or financial information.
In this scam, the interaction usually starts innocuously. For example, someone posing as the Editors Canada president will send a short email asking for the recipient’s help with something because they’re busy. If the recipient replies, the sender might ask them for financial help or that the recipient make a purchase of gift cards on their behalf.
Things to look out for
- Look out for unsolicited emails asking you for personal information.
- Be cautious of messages that create urgency or pressure you to act quickly.
- Be wary of unexpected messages, even if they appear to come from familiar people. This includes members of the national executive council, branch or twig executives, committee chairs or a member of staff.
- When in doubt, do not reply to the email. Instead, get the sender’s contact information from the Editors Canada website and email them directly to confirm whether they sent you the initial message.
Quick prevention tips from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
- Don’t click on links from unsolicited messages.
- Don’t download attachments from unsolicited messages.
- Watch for spelling mistakes.
- Don’t trust a message just because the email address looks legitimate; fraudsters can spoof the address.
More info
Thank you for your attention and for helping to keep our community safe.
National Executive Council
Editors Canada