$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Google Calendar invite spam scam
Scammers send unsolicited Google Calendar invitations containing phishing links or fake prize notifications that automatically appear on the victim's calendar.
“phishing email”
↑ 215%Key indicators
Estimated impact
$400
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $4.0K
Recovery rate~18%
Annual reports290,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers exploit Google Calendar's default setting that automatically adds event invitations to your calendar.
2
The calendar event contains phishing links in the description, event title, or location field.
3
Clicking the link leads to fake survey pages, prize claim forms, or credential-harvesting sites.
What to do first
Change your Google Calendar settings to only show invitations you have explicitly accepted.
Related terms
calendar phishingGoogle Calendar phishing inviteEmail phishing scamsGoogleSurgingGmail usersAdultsBusiness professionalsUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadacalendar phishingGoogle Calendar phishing invite
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Lisa, 35, a gmail users, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate email phishing scams situation while using Google. Scammers exploit Google Calendar's default setting that automatically adds event invitations to your calendar.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The calendar event contains phishing links in the description, event title, or location field.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Clicking the link leads to fake survey pages, prize claim forms, or credential-harvesting sites.
The outcome
Lisa realized something was wrong when calendar event from someone you do not know appears automatically without your acceptance. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Change your Google Calendar settings to only show invitations you have explicitly accepted. Lisa's experience shows why calendar event from someone you do not know appears automatically without your acceptance and event description contains links claiming you won a prize or need to verify your account are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Calendar event from someone you do not know appears automatically without your acceptance
- Event description contains links claiming you won a prize or need to verify your account
- The invitation has no real meeting details — just a link
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Change your Google Calendar settings to only show invitations you have explicitly accepted.
- ✓Do not click links in unexpected calendar invitations — delete the event and report it as spam.
- ✓Go to Google Calendar Settings > Event Settings > set 'Add invitations to my calendar' to 'Only if the sender is known.'
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Google Calendar spam was widely documented starting in 2019 and continues to be exploited, prompting Google to add spam filtering features for Calendar.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Change your Google Calendar settings to only show invitations you have explicitly accepted.
- ✓Do not click links in unexpected calendar invitations — delete the event and report it as spam.
- ✓Go to Google Calendar Settings > Event Settings > set 'Add invitations to my calendar' to 'Only if the sender is known.'
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Google Calendar spam was widely documented starting in 2019 and continues to be exploited, prompting Google to add spam filtering features for Calendar.
OpenScam research
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Gmail users, Adults, Business professionals
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia
Primary channel
Google — Email phishing scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Gmail users are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Google Calendar spam was widely documented starting in 2019 and continues to be exploited, prompting Google to add spam filtering features for Calendar.
Source notes
- OpenScam research
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about google calendar invite spam scam
How does the google calendar invite spam scam work?+
Scammers exploit Google Calendar's default setting that automatically adds event invitations to your calendar. The calendar event contains phishing links in the description, event title, or location field. Clicking the link leads to fake survey pages, prize claim forms, or credential-harvesting sites.
What are the warning signs of google calendar invite spam scam?+
Calendar event from someone you do not know appears automatically without your acceptance Event description contains links claiming you won a prize or need to verify your account The invitation has no real meeting details — just a link
What should I do if I encounter google calendar invite spam scam?+
Change your Google Calendar settings to only show invitations you have explicitly accepted. Do not click links in unexpected calendar invitations — delete the event and report it as spam. Go to Google Calendar Settings > Event Settings > set 'Add invitations to my calendar' to 'Only if the sender is known.'
Who is most at risk for google calendar invite spam scam?+
This scam primarily targets Gmail users, Adults, Business professionals. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and typically appears on Google.
Is google calendar invite spam scam getting worse?+
Google Calendar invite spam scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, AU. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.