8 ways to spot a scam email!

About 95% of email today consists of SPAM and many of these are scams. These scams make use of social engineering or trickery. If an email looks suspicious then it probably is.

These days SPAM filters operated by your Internet Service Provider, and on your security software are tackling the problem of SPAM emails , many of which are also SCAM emails. However the SPAMMers /SCAMMERs are constantly seeking ways around these filters and deceiving emails are still sneaking through.

Many Scam emails appear innocuous but are designed to fool you into clicking on a link which then downloads malicious software designed to steal passwords or worse control your computer. This malicious software is developed by crime syndicates who develop deceptive techniques, also called social engineering,  to engage in  and fraud to steal your money or information which they can then trade with other criminals for money.

Here are our eight tell tale signs that an email is fake.

1. You don’t recognise who sent it.
2. You do know the sender but the message is somehow strange, with inappropriate wording or content.
3. Includes an alarming message trying to panic you into responding.
4. Is supposedly from a bank asking to reset your passwords. (Banks never send emails for this reason, they will send you a letter or call you on the phone)
5. You have just won 1 $10m prize (again) or your email has been selected to win a prize.
6. Subjects such as Cheap  Viagra, or other cheap drugs
7. They include a current popular topic for example using Michael Jackson in the heading about the time of his death.
8. Poor spelling, badly formatted or strange images
9. Includes an attachment.

Remember you can always phone the person or company who sent the email and check whether they actually sent it.  Don’t use the phone contact in the email or website. Be  sure you get the phone number from another correspondence or your phone book.

If you think you have been subject to a scam or accidentally clicked on a link don’t ignore the threat. Call us immediately on (03) 955 4986 or make contact via the contact form as we can offer advice on what to do.