3 Common Email Scams
Email scams have been around for years, and are still just as common as ever. There is an endless amount of scams out there, and it would be impossible to list them all. There are, however, common traits to watch out for when opening up emails from senders you don’t know. Here are 3 common email scams:
The Imitation Email
Some scammers will imitate an email from a legitimate company. The email may look convincing at first, but don’t be fooled. The email will try to get you to click on links and travel to other websites. It’s important that you never click on a link included in an unsolicited email, as the website you’re led to could be bogus and harmful to your computer.
The Urgent Email
If you receive an email that states an urgent or limited time only offer from a company you don’t know, be wary. Scammers will try to make the offer look exclusive or tempting, and may even suggest that you enter your financial information for a special rate or quote. Don’t fall for it! Once you add your financial information, the scammer has access to your funds and can use that information to his/her benefit. Legitimate companies would never ask for your credit or debit card information through an email.
The Problem Email
Another popular email scam is one that tricks the receiver into thinking there’s a problem and he/she needs to take action. For example, some scammers will send emails that imitate a financial institution stating that there has been a problem with payment or a security issue. The email’s receiver is instructed to go to click on a link to resolve the issue, but instead is taken to a malicious site. Your bank won’t send official notices like this via email. If you’re worried and can’t tell if the notice is real or not, contact your bank and ask.
Want to know more about online scams and how to avoid them? Visit our blog post 11 Ways to Tell if You’ve Been Hacked
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