05/25/2026
🚨 IMPORTANT SAFETY ALERT: Phishing Scams Targeting Our Hockey Community 🚨
Attention REMHA families, coaches, and volunteers,
We want to give everyone a heads-up about a sophisticated phishing scam currently targeting local hockey communities, including our own.
Scammers are pulling names and contact information directly from public association websites to craft highly targeted, personalized emails. They are impersonating board members and team officials to trick volunteers into spending money.
Here is exactly what to look out for and how to protect yourself.
🕵️♂️ How the Scam Works
The scammers usually start with a casual message asking if you are "available for a chat." Once you reply, they try to exploit your kindness.
A common tactic right now involves a fake board member asking for a "favor" to buy electronic gift cards as a surprise thank-you for hardworking coaches. They will often explicitly ask you to keep it confidential so the surprise isn't ruined—this is a trick to stop you from double-checking their story!
🛑 Tips to Spot and Stop the Scam
Before you respond to any unusual financial or favor-based requests, use these golden rules:
Look Closely at the Actual Email Address: Scammers can easily change their "Display Name" to look like someone you know. However, if you look at the actual email address next to or behind the name, it will often be a generic, unrelated account (like a random Gmail address).
Verify via a Separate Channel: If a request feels even slightly unusual, do not reply to the email. Pick up the phone and call or text the sender using a number you already have saved, or track them down in person at the rink to confirm if they actually sent it.
Watch for Red Flags of Secrecy and Urgency: Phrases like "I'm a bit tied up right now," "I need this taken care of quickly," or "Let's keep this confidential" are textbook psychological tricks used by scammers to rush your judgment.
The Gift Card Rule: Treat requests for gift cards, digital vouchers, or cryptocurrency as an immediate red flag. Legitimate organizations will almost never ask volunteers to purchase these out-of-pocket via a cold email.
👍 Shoutout to our alert community members: A huge thank you to the sharp-eyed coaches and parents who spotted this recent attempt, immediately called the person being impersonated, and raised the alarm.
Let's keep our guard up and keep the ice safe—both on and off the rink! If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from REMHA, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly through our official channels to verify it.
