Beware! Scammers Target Hunters with Spoofed Outfitter Websites

SCI has received reports regarding the latest scam to steal money from hunters and outfitters. Several outfitters say scammers have cloned their websites to steal thousands of dollars from hunters in deposits for nonexistent hunts. These outfitters learned of the con when hunters began contacting them about trying to book hunts through the spoofed websites. The only option for unsuspecting hunters who send money to these scammers is to report the theft to cybercrime units at the FBI or equivalent agencies in their countries of origin.

SCI’s CIO Paul Guagliardo warns, “Unfortunately, with advancements in AI and website cloning, it’s getting harder to tell the difference between legitimate outfitters and spoofed sites. While there is no foolproof way to spot these bad actors, both hunters and outfitters can take certain steps when conducting business online to protect themselves. The most important thing is to practice vigilance, which requires close attention to details.”

Here are some tips from Guagliardo and SCI’s Hunter Information Service to help hunters avoid scams when reviewing outfitter websites, communicating with outfitters online and sending funds for booked hunts:

Spotting Fake Sites

• Beware of Suspicious Website URLs with slight misspellings, extra characters, unusual endings (e.g., .net, .xyz, .info instead of .com).
• Google Search the Outfitter instead of clicking on links or advertising on social media and other digital platforms.
• Look for the HTTPS (Secure Connection) If the website address doesn’t start with https:// or is missing the padlock icon 🔒, it’s a red flag.
• Verify Contact Information If there’s no phone number, no business address, or a generic email (like Gmail or Yahoo), that’s a warning sign.
• Beware of Stock Photos or Stolen Images Use Google Image Search to check if the photos on their website are used elsewhere.
• Scrutinize the Site Look for poor design, copy-paste content, sloppy layout, low-quality images, generic text, inconsistent branding, conflicting or incompatible content.

Conduct Due Diligence

• Call and Speak with the Outfitter Don’t rely on just email or text.
• Look for an Online Presence or Reviews A reputable outfitter should have Google reviews, social media activity, or be listed with hunting associations or directories.
• Look for License or Accreditation Info Look for a guiding license number and professional affiliations, then verify them.
• Check with SCI’s Hunter Information Service Any SCI member can contact the Hunter Information Service at [email protected].

 Protect Your Money

• Beware of Unusual Payment Requests Paying by wire transfer, Venmo, gift cards, or crypto are common scammer tactics. Use credit cards or secure platforms like PayPal.
• Beware of Emails Changing the Mode of Payment or where to send a payment. Cloned websites are just a step up from another scam in which thieves spoof an outfitter’s email and convince hunters to send deposits to a different bank account.

Always Listen to Your Gut

• STOP! If something feels off, doesn’t make complete sense, or is out of the norm in any way, pull back and review things with a fresh mind and eyes. Don’t allow a manufactured sense of urgency lead to the loss of thousands of your hard-earned dollars or euros.
• Beware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Offers Deeply discounted trips, guaranteed trophy kills, or urgent “limited time” deals may be scams. That’s how they hook you!

These steps may seem burdensome to hunters who yearn for the days when hunt bookings were done on a word and a handshake. But they are necessary to protect your hard-earned cash from tech-savvy thieves who will do and say anything to part you from it. Word to the wise.