Scammers know how easy it is to trick people with emails or websites that look real. Often, people don’t even look at the URL or read through the content thoroughly and critically, which makes it very easy for a scammer to make a fake email and website. They will use fake identities to trick their victims into revealing important information.
Have you ever received an email from someone who is pretending to be from your bank or a company executive asking for sensitive information? Emails such as this may contain a link to a fake website to steal your login information or to a malicious attachment that can spread malware or ransomware throughout your system. Remember, most organizations will NOT send you an email asking for any sensitive information such as your social security number, credit card information, or passwords, nor will they ever send you an attachment to download.
Be on the lookout for emails that begin with “Dear Customer,” “Dear Member,” or “Dear Valued Buyer.” If a company needs any information from you, they will always call you by name. If an email contains misspellings, links, and is seemingly from a popular company, there is a good chance that it is not legitimate. Another sure sign of a malicious email is if it contains threats and deadlines. If you receive an email that seems suspicious, immediately report it to your IT department.
Phishing attacks mostly occur due to human error. Therefore, the best defense against phishing scams is common sense. If something seems off, trust your instincts to avoid becoming a victim.
