Unfortunately, not every message that lands in your inbox has your best interests at heart. Malicious actors are casting wider and more sophisticated nets than ever before, hoping to reel in an unsuspecting employee and gain access to your business' valuable data and finances. Fear not, with a little knowledge and a healthy dose of skepticism, you can learn to spot these email scams and keep your organization safe.
Here at First Column IT, we believe that proactive business technology support is the best defense against these ever-evolving threats. That's why we're sharing our top four ways to detect and successfully avoid email scams.
Before you even think about clicking a link or downloading an attachment, take a close look at who the email is from. Scammers are masters of disguise, often using spoofed email addresses that look remarkably similar to legitimate ones. They might swap a letter for a number (like O and 0) or add a subtle misspelling to a familiar domain name.
Hover your mouse over the sender's name to reveal the actual email address it's coming from. If it looks suspicious or doesn't match the purported sender, it's a major red flag. Also, be wary of generic greetings like "Dear Valued Customer." Legitimate companies will almost always address you by name.
A common tactic among cybercriminals is to create a sense of urgency or panic. Emails threatening to close your account, claiming you've been a victim of fraud, or demanding immediate payment for a past-due invoice are all designed to make you act impulsively. When you're rushed, you're less likely to scrutinize the details.
If an email is pressuring you to act immediately, take a second to realize what you’re looking at. Independently verify the claim by contacting the supposed sender through a known and trusted channel. For instance, if you receive an urgent email from your bank, don't click the link in the email. Instead, open a new browser window and navigate to your bank's website directly or call the customer service number on the back of your card.
That seemingly innocent link or attachment could be the gateway for malware, ransomware, or a phishing site designed to steal your credentials. Scammers often disguise malicious links with hyperlink text that appears legitimate.
Before clicking any link, hover your mouse over it to preview the actual URL. If it's a long, convoluted address or directs you to a completely different website than what the text suggests, don't click it. Be equally cautious with attachments. Unless you are expecting a file from a specific sender, it's best to confirm its legitimacy through a separate communication channel before opening it.
To check a link, you need to hover your mouse over the clickable part in the email, and look at the bottom of the screen, typically on the left for most email clients. It will show you an address that starts with http.
For our example, we’re going to use Amazon.com, and how to spot something suspicious. It’s all about looking for periods in the address, and noting where the periods are.
If there is a period AFTER the domain name of the website you want to go to, then it might be a trap.
Let’s take a look at another example, using PayPal:
Keep in mind, these URLs above may or may not be real, we’re just making them up for the sake of an example!
Technology is a powerful tool in the fight against email scams, but the most effective defense is a well-informed and vigilant team. Employee training is not just a recommendation; it's a necessity. Your staff should be educated on the latest phishing techniques and empowered to question any suspicious communication.
Here’s a brief plan to create a sufficient line of defense:
At First Column IT, we understand that navigating the complexities of modern cybersecurity can be difficult to coordinate. Our proactive approach to technology support means we're not just there to fix problems; we're there to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Don't wait until a phishing attempt turns into a costly data breach. Let us help you build a resilient defense against the ever-present threat of email scams. Give us a call today at (571) 470-5594 to learn more.
