There has been an increase in the number of email scams being sent out. It is important to keep a critical eye and identify scams early on.
An email scam is terrifying. Not only is there a possibility of stolen data, but of stolen identities as well. In every 99 email messages you get, there is at least one email phishing scam mixed in your mails.
You should be aware of some tell-tale signs and know which emails to ignore. Read on to learn more about email scams and ways to identify them.
Types of Email Scams
You can keep yourself safe by learning how to recognize the most common scams. Below are some of the most common types:
- Foreign lottery scams
- Survey scams
The foreign lottery email scam is the most common among those stated above. The email contains an announcement that says you have the chance to have a million or more dollars. Always search if the lottery is real and that they don’t ask for your personal information.
The survey scam needs you to click on the link to take the survey. Once you click on the link, spyware, or malware hacks into your computer. Cybercriminals can now spy on every move you make and copy your passwords and info.
To avoid falling for these scams, here are 3 ways you can identify an email scam:
Public Email Domains
Always keep an eye out for the sender’s email address. Although the design and layout may look the same, scammers can’t copy their email domain. The domain name is the bit after the At (@) symbol.
Legitimate organizations don’t send emails from personal addresses ending in “@gmail.com.” An email such as Netflix@gmail.com is a dead giveaway that you’re getting scammed. The domain name should match the sender of the email in the form: customersupport@netflix.com.
Asking for Personal Information
Most email scams will go through the effort of making a very similar replica from the original. But some authentic-looking emails will make requests that you wouldn’t normally expect.
Take, for example, a business offering you free weights and then requests for your credit card info.
Always look out for emails requiring you to confirm personal information. They may target your banking or login credentials. Make a habit of updating your accounts so you won’t have to worry about email scams asking for your info.
Try not to reply or click on any links. Instead, search for their website and call the organization directly. You can also talk to the organization from the app or website rather than the emails.
The Email Is Poorly Written
Take the time to read the email and check for spelling and grammatical mistakes. Emails from professional companies have professional writers. They have each email checked for spelling, grammar, and legality errors.
Scammers will only target the most gullible people. You should also check if the email address has an extra letter or a misspelled URL.
Note that legitimate organizations greet clients by their names. They don’t use “dear” or simply say “hi.” It is also common for email phishing scams to send an email with messages that create a sense of urgency.
Practice Email Scam Safety Now!
Don’t be a victim of an email scam. Take your time to analyze the emails you get to protect all your info.
Of course, there are other aspects to monitor to stay safe online. Feel free to go over our other tech posts and guides today to learn even more important tips and tricks to follow!