Do you think you can tell the difference between a real e-mail and a fake one sent by hackers trying to access your personal information? E-mails come in many forms, and it sometimes can be difficult to tell the difference between a genuine message and a scam. Here are some of the many indicators that the e-mail you've received is fraudulent.
1.
Addressed to a
username:
The writers of fraudulent e-mails have varying degrees of information about the
recipient. It may include their e-mail address and username. Legitimate
companies generally start an e-mail by addressing the recipient by their full
name.
Many times the point of a scam e-mails is to
gain personal information about the user. The e=-mail may use something more
generic, like "Dear Sir" or "Dear Madam." (Any e-mail that
does not give specifics is one sign of a phishing e-mail).
2.
Check the web page
link: One of the most
commonly used tools of scammers is a web page link. A deceptive e-mail
may contain a link to a bogus website that they'll use to capture whatever you
type on that web page. It allow them access to your account or information. To
combat this, you can check the link in your e-mail before clicking it. One way
to inspect a link is to place your mouse cursor over the
link, but refrain from clicking on it.
At the bottom of your e-mail program or browser in the
status bar, you should be able to see the actual website address. Inspection of
the link should indicate whether or not the like is to the company’s actual
website. You can right
click
on the link in the e-mail, choose the "Copy Link Location" or similar
option in the pop-up menu, and then paste that link in a program like TextPad or Microsoft Word. Copying the link
allows you to view the entire address for that link. Compare that link to the
company's real website address, and verify if they match or not.
3.
Incomplete/misspelled
words: One of the
indications of a scam e-mail is poor spelling, grammar, or punctuation. E-mails
coming from professional organizations and companies are highly unlikely to
contain any of these mistakes. Scam e-mails are often written by
individuals who may not have strong spelling or grammatical skills, or are
writing in a rushed fashion. If you receive an e-mail with spelling or grammar
mistakes that appears to be from a legitimate company, it is probably a scam
and should be deleted.
4.
Request to enter
personal information: Some e-mails are
designed to capture a user's login credentials for a
particular website. These e-mails often
include a request for a user to submit some sort of personal information (or
login credentials) via e-mail to access an issue with their account. If an
e-mail you receive asks for any of this information, be wary as it can be a
sign of a scam. (Most legitimate businesses will ask you to visit their site
and log in to your account rather than requesting the information by e-mail.)
5.
Requires immediate action: If an e-mail requires immediate
action. A good practice is to call the company directly, and inquire whether or
not the message is legitimate. The customer service department should be able
to look up your account, and determine if any action is required related to the
e-mail you received.
“When Internet fraudsters impersonate a business to trick you into
giving out your personal information, it’s called phishing.” (OnGuardOnline.gov)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“5
Ways to Spot E-mail Scams” by Scott Stump
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