5 Signs It's A Scam
- Spelling mistakes in the subject line or body of the email.
- The address of the sender is not genuine
Instead of 'W', it may show 'VV' (two v's). It could even be something nonsensical, with random letters & numbers. - The email is generic, they may not address you by name, or if they do, it is only based off the beginning of your email address – not from any previous correspondence a genuine email might have.
HINT: edit your account details on websites, so your name has a number in it (e.g. S4m, Al3x, Lou1se) -
Links in emails don’t take you to the genuine website.
Hover your cursor over a link in any email to show you where it wants to take you to. This may show that the destination site is not the website of the company you are expecting it to be. - Watch out for links asking you to download anything.
If clicked, these may install viruses or malware to your device. Some viruses monitor everything you are doing onine; such as what you are typing in (including passwords/financial details); turn on your microphones, and even your webcams without you realising.
Dangers of Emails
Also be aware of the following...
- Shoulder surfing – people now work and browse the internet from practically anywhere, using their mobile, laptop or tablet. The danger of this is that when online in a public place, someone nearby may take the opportunity to watch what you are doing. Be careful when opening sensitive emails, or entering personal details, in a public place.
- Phishing - emails aimed at deceiving recipients into sharing sensitive information with a cyber-criminal. The emails are designed to steal personal details such as bank account information and passwords.
- Spearphishing – specific phishing emails targeted directly at you. They are often harder to detect as they are likely to be from a company you do business with and will seem rather plausible.
If you are ever unsure about an email, it is advised to mark it as 'spam' or 'phishing' (so your email provider can use it to improve their filters). Always access your accounts via a website with HTTPS within the address bar - not via links in emails.
Stay up to date on the latest scams affecting Warwickshire residents with our monthly Cyber Scam Update; with the newest editions usually posted within the first week of each month.
