Alert: "Counselor Needed" Scam

“Counselor Needed” scam – Please tread carefully

We want to notify you that ACBS has received a few reports from members of a scam that is being emailed through our website. We’ve also learned that we’re not the only psychology association in this situation.

The ACBS website has safeguards in place to help limit the quantity of emails that can be sent, as well as the timing, so as to help stop scam emails from coming through. However, depending on how they are sent, we unfortunately can’t stop all of them. In case you are unaware of these scams, we just wanted to explain how some of them work. The person often requests services very soon and attempts to push things through quickly. They then want to pre-pay, often with a credit card or check, but sometimes through other means. The payment will be for the amount due, or for too much money. They will then cancel and request a refund typically in a different way (like they pay by credit card, and ask for the refund as a check or bank transfer). Assuming that the money is stolen (stolen credit card), you have now “refunded” to a different account. When the credit card company or bank follows up with you on the unauthorized charge, you no longer have the funds, but they will still be taken back from you by the credit card company or bank.

The vast majority of the emails you might receive via the ACBS website (via your personal contact form) are from legitimate members or legitimate potential clients. However, the emails are not previously vetted for their veracity.  If you would prefer to NEVER receive an email via the ACBS website from a member of the public or another ACBS member, please login at https://contextualscience.org/user then click on “My Account” at the top of the page, then click on “Edit”, then uncheck the “Personal contact form” check box at the bottom of the page and click “Save”.  Changing your account this way does not change your ability to receive ACBS listserv posts, newsletters, or other direct communications from ACBS.

If you have questions or need help, please contact ACBS staff at acbsstaff@contextualscience.org

Thank you,
Emily Rodrigues, Executive Director

 

 

(This webpage was updated on May 25, 2018)