Cybercrime is becoming more and more advanced every year, with new programs and technology available to hackers to access your systems and files. One method is known as Phishing, a term coined in the mid nineties, has evolved through the age of social media and email into what we see today. Every day, countless phishing emails are sent to victims all around the world, and seemingly innocuous Facebook posts are used to gather information from people. Help Desk Cavalry has put together a list of 10 things to look for when trying to identify phishing scams, so read on and use this information to stay secure on the internet.
The URL is Mismatched.
Phishing scams rely on you being inattentive and will use links to what seem like legitimate websites, but are just a little off. Hovering your mouse over the link in your email will show you the address that will open if you click on it, and you should verify that the spelling is correct before doing so. If the link in the email and the hyperlink you see when you hover over it, it’s probably not a legitimate link.
The URL Contains a Problematic Domain Name
Sometimes a scam will add something to a more recognizable URL to trick you into clicking it. Because of how URLs function, what is at the end of the URL is usually more important than what is at the beginning. For example: portal.office.com will bring you to the Office 365 log in page, because “portal” is a subdomain of office.com. If it said portal.offfice.com then it is a fake site using ‘offfice.com’ to lure you into clicking it. It is very important that whenever you are clicking on a link in an email that you are reading the URLs very carefully.
Incorrect Grammar and Spelling
An email that contains a lot of spelling or grammar errors that supposedly comes from a major company like Google, Microsoft, or Apple. Any official message that is sent out will have been reviewed for spelling, grammar, and legality so any message that you receive that has glaring errors is most likely a scam.
Requests for Personal Information
Beware of any message or post that asks you for personal information of any kind. Phishing strategies rely on a user entering in information that can be used against them somehow. Viral Facebook posts asking for your favorite bands, names of pets, or where you met you significant other may seem safe, but people often forget that their passwords are based off these very things. Your bank or financial institution would never ask for your password or security question in an email, and you should never enter payment information into a webpage unless you are absolutely certain that the page is secure and legitimate.
It’s Too Good to be True
The classic example of this would be the deceased foreign royalty that you are somehow in line to inherit the fortune of. Phishing scams will request that you give out information so that you can receive a fabulous prize, a vast fortune, or a dream vacation. If someone you do not know is offering the world for nothing, don’t take the bait.
You Didn’t Do Anything
If you have received a message saying that you have won a sweepstakes or a lottery that you didn’t even enter, you are most likely being scammed. If you are winning contests that you didn’t enter, it’s most likely a scam.
Someone is Asking for Money
Scams may start out seeming fairly enticing, but most will eventually ask you to shell out some money before you see your riches. Someone needs you to cover the transfer fee to send you money? Free products and you only need to pay shipping? The scammers will win in the end when they have received your credit card information.
Someone is Threatening You
There are some Phishing scams that rely on scaring people into providing information. A scam that pretends to be your bank claiming that they are seizing your assets unless you provide account numbers and ID will say anything to get that information. Scammers will use whatever information they already have about you will try to use that to their advantage, and that includes using stores you shop at, programs you subscribe to, or even financial institutions you have accounts at. Be wary and if you are concerned about a message or email received, call the public contact number of the company to verify the message.
The Message is Supposedly from a Government Agency
An email that claims to be from the FBI saying that you have broken the law and can only avoid jail time by sending a cashier’s check to a PO Box is a dangerous and obvious scam. Various scams and viruses will attempt to scare users by posing as an authority of some kind and promise punishment unless information or money is sent. It is recommended that you contact Help Desk Cavalry if you ever receive a notice from someone posing as a government agency.
Something Seems Wrong
Your best defense against Phishing scams is vigilance. If you are unsure of the link in a message, don’t click it! If a message seems suspicious, don’t click on the links or do what the message says. If you are unsure for any reason, make sure to contact Help Desk Cavalry and we will work with you to resolve the issue.