Several members have recently reported receiving phishing emails that appear to come from individuals associated with the American Go Association, including officers or other well-known volunteers. In at least one case, the sender’s name was spoofed while the actual email address was not associated with the AGA.
These messages often begin innocuously—such as asking whether the recipient has time to chat—but can escalate into requests to purchase gift cards or send payment information. This is a common scam tactic and not something AGA officers, staff, or volunteers would ever request.
It appears that some contact information may have been harvested from publicly available sources, such as chapter listings.
Please be cautious:
- Check the sender’s actual email address, not just the displayed name
- Be skeptical of unexpected or urgent requests, especially involving money or gift cards
- Do not respond or click links in suspicious messages
- Report the message as a phishing attempt through your email provider
If you are ever unsure whether a message truly comes from the AGA or one of its representatives, use official AGA contact information listed on the AGA website to verify before responding.
Staying alert helps protect both individual members and the broader AGA community.