28/11/2024
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday there will be a lot of emails going around. If we are honest we probably only read at a third of the content before we click something so take a minute to read this.
Becoming an unsuspecting victim of fake emails can lead to significant financial losses, identity theft, and data breaches. But by understanding the common tactics employed by cyber criminals, you can effectively protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.
Five key signs that can help you distinguish between legitimate emails and fraudulent ones.
✅ Check the sender's address: Scrutinise the domain (.com vs. .com) and look for odd character strings in the email address ([email protected]).
👋 Mind your greetings: Legitimate emails often use personalised greetings ("Dear [Your Name]") while phishing emails tend to use generic introductions like "Dear Customer" or "Dear User."
👆 Don't click blindly: Hover over email links to reveal the true destination URL. Beware of mismatched domains (paypal-customers.com instead of paypal.com) and masked links that redirect elsewhere.
🚨 Resist the pressure: Be wary of emails that demand immediate action or threaten severe consequences. Reputable companies typically avoid creating a sense of panic.
⌨️ Beware of unexpected attachments: Avoid downloading or opening attachments from suspicious emails, especially executable files (.exe, .zip). Be cautious of requests to download or provide sensitive information through attached documents.