Email scams, often referred to as phishing, are a common tactic used by cybercriminals to deceive individuals into revealing personal information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers. These scams typically involve fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, such as banks, online retailers, or service providers, urging the recipient to take immediate action.
To protect yourself from falling victim to email scams, it is essential to stay vigilant and look for these warning signs:
Unusual Email Address
Slow it down. Does that look like an email address your bank would use? Be wary of unexpected emails from addresses that aren’t like the ones your bank typically employs.
Misspelled Words
Spot check! If you see misspelled words or odd grammar, they are all clear signs of an impersonator. Real banks use spell check.
Scare Tactics
Don’t panic. If an email uses scare tactics, such as urgent warnings of account closure or security breaches, you can safely assume it’s a scam.
Suspicious URLs
Hold up — banks will never ask you to log in via email. Phishing emails use deceptive URLs to take you to malicious websites. Never click links that you weren’t expecting.
Unexpected Attachments
Something’s phishy, because real banks will never send an email attachment — especially when you didn’t ask for it. Attachments can contain malware that can compromise your computer or personal information. Never click on attachments from emails supposedly from your bank.
Blog post courtesy of the American Banker's Association.