Stay Alert: buyer impersonation email circulating in produce industry

Blue Book Services has been made aware of a suspicious buyer impersonation email currently circulating in the produce industry.

Here’s the message:

Several key red flags suggest this is a likely fraud attempt.

Notable Red Flags:

1. Suspicious Email Domain
   The sender’s email originates from a no reply / noncorporate domain (“@digitalsochmedia.com”) rather than an official company domain. Legitimate buyers will use verified corporate email addresses.
2. Generic Outreach
   The message opens with a broad “Dear Sales” greeting and lacks any reference to an existing relationship—common in mass phishing attempts.
3. Signature Risk
   While the signature includes a real company name, address, and phone number, it also appears as generic.

Blue Book called the phone number found in the signature. We were not able to speak with the person found in the signature, rather, we were pushed to a voicemail set up. The greeting was generic with no reference of the person or company name.

Recommended Actions

Do not proceed with any transaction based on this email, or one like it.

Verify the buyer independently using known company contact information.

Inspect the email domain carefully—not just the display name.

Report suspicious activity to your internal team and trusted industry partners.

Reminder

Fraudsters continue to exploit strong markets and fast-moving supply chains by impersonating reputable buyers. Always verify before extending credit or shipping product—especially when dealing with new or unsolicited inquiries.

If you haven’t heard, Blue Book is hosting a live webinar on Tuesday, April 21, walking through our 2026 Fraud Forecast’s findings and the tools available to combat it: Register for the webinar here.

If you receive a suspicious, fraud-like communication, and are unable validate, share your experience with Blue Book at rating@bluebookservices.com.