Phishing is a method scammers use to try and gather personal information using deceptive e-mails and websites. Cyber criminals are going all out to exploit vulnerabilities caused by the shift to the remote work culture. The human element is important in safeguarding against cyber attacks, since it is both a first line of defense, as well as a weak link. At WH Security, we help you protect what matters most, which is why we are sharing these tips to help you spot and avoid email scams in your personal or business emails.
- Spot impostors. Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust. Like a government official, a family member, a charity or a company you do business with. Make sure to check the “From” email address, not just the sender’s name.
- Check the “To” field. Look in the “To” field of an email that you question. If it is being sent to dozens of people you don’t know, it probably isn’t legit.
- Check links. If you get an email from a company you know that includes a link to review your account activity, don’t click. Instead, go directly to the known website and log in there. The visible link within the email may be a URL you know, but the actual link coded in the HTML will take the user to the bogus site.
- Don’t email personal information. Most banks have policies against asking for account information in emails. Be skeptical of any email asking for these things. If you’re not sure, call your bank directly at their main phone number and ask.
- Don’t open attachments or zip files. Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake information, so the name you see isn’t always real. If someone emails you asking for personal information with an attached file they want you to review, delete the email. Opening an attachment could infect your computer with a virus. If you think the email might be legit, call the sender and ask them if they have sent it so you know it is genuine before you click.
Safety is a top priority at WH Security and we hope these tips will help keep your identity and finances safe. In 2020, 95% of malware was delivered by email. If you spot a phishing attack, please report it to the FTC at 1.877.FTC.HELP or online at ftc.gov/complaint. If you think you have been a victim of an email scam, more information is available from the FTC.