The increasing pace of life coupled with mobile computing which bombards us with emails and messages, from more sources, and across more devices than ever before has created what Proofpoint calls a generation of trigger-happy clickers.
Trigger-happy clickers are falling more and more for fake emails from cybercriminals. These fake emails are so convincing and compelling that they fool 10% of recipients into clicking on the malicious link according to the article. To put that into context a legitimate marketing department typically expects <2% click rate on their advertising campaigns.
So, despite the best efforts of security professionals, too many people are still falling prey to email scams at home and work. Whether it’s a get-rich-quick scheme or a sophisticated spearphishing attack, here are some emails to steer clear of:
1. The government scam
These emails look as if they come from government agencies, such as the IRS, FBI, or CIA. If these TLA’s want to get a hold of you, it won’t be through email.
2. The “long-lost friend”
This scammer tries to make you think you know them, but it might also be a contact of yours that was hacked.
3. The billing issue
These emails typically come in the form of legitimate-looking communications. If you catch one of these, log into your member account on the website or call the call center.
4. The expiration date
A company claims your account is about to expire, and you must sign in to keep your data. Again, sign in directly to the member website instead of clicking a link in the email.
5. You’re infected
A message claims you’re infected with a virus. Simple fix: Just run your antivirus and check. In a recent twist, scammers claiming to be computer techs associated with well-known companies like Microsoft. They say that they’ve detected viruses or other malware on your computer to trick you into giving them remote access or paying for software you don’t need.
Scammers have been peddling bogus security software for years. They set up fake websites, offer free “security” scans, and send alarming messages to try to convince you that your computer is infected with malware. Then, they try to sell you software to fix the problem. At best, the software is worthless or available elsewhere for free. At worst, it could be malware — software designed to give criminals access to your computer and your personal information.
But wait it gets worse – If you paid for their “tech support” you could later get a call about a refund. The refund scam works like this: Several months after the purchase, someone might call to ask if you were happy with the service. When you say you weren’t, the scammer offers a refund.
Or the caller may say that the company is going out of business and providing refunds for “warranties” and other services.
The scammers eventually ask for a bank or credit card account number. Or they ask you to create a Western Union account. They might even ask for remote access to your computer to help you fill out the necessary forms. But instead of putting money in your account, the scammers withdraw money from your account.
6. You’ve won
Claims you won a contest you never entered. You’re not that lucky; delete it. It’s illegal to play a foreign lottery. Any letter or email from a lottery or sweepstakes that ask you to pay taxes, fees, shipping, or insurance to claim your prize is a scam.
Some scammers ask you to send the money through a wire transfer. That’s because wire transfers are efficient: your money is transferred and available for pick up very quickly. Once it’s transferred, it’s gone. Others ask you to send a check or pay for your supposed winnings with a credit card. The reason: they use your bank account numbers to withdraw funds without your approval, or your credit card numbers to run up charges.
7. The bank notification
An email claiming some type of deposit or withdrawal. Give the bank a call to be safe.
8. Playing the victim
These emails make you out to be the bad guy and claim you hurt them in some way. Ignore.
9. The security check
A very common phishing scam where a company just wants you to “verify your account.” Companies almost never ask you to do this via email.
What To Do Instead of Clicking Links
In the case of your bank or other institution, just go to the website yourself and log in. Type in the address manually in the browser or click your bookmark. That way you can see if there’s something that needs taken care of without the risk of ending up on a phishing site.
In the case of your friend’s email, chances are that they copied/pasted the link into the message. That means you can see the full address. You can just copy/paste the address into the browser yourself without clicking anything. Of course, before doing that make sure you recognize the website and that it’s not misspelled.
Proofpoint’s bottom line is that unless you explicitly know and trust it, avoid it. That’s all there is to it. Make this a habit and you can avoid one of the biggest mistakes in internet safety.
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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.
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