Today I just wanted to do a quick blog on “How To Identify Fraudulent and Scam Emails or Phishing Schemes!”
As an internet marketer I do a lot of work online and therefore subject to being the target of an email scam. But you don’t have to be online a lot to receive a scam email. If you do any online banking or you are active on social media you could receive a phishing email.
What is phishing? It’s when scam artist send these fake emails hoping that you’ll reply or click on a link in the email and provide personal information like passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card numbers.
Here is an example, the other day I received this email.
SUBJECT: Instructio
Dear Sir,
We are not sure you received our previous message but we wish to congratulate and inform you that after thorough review of all unclaimed lottery prize money, inheritance and contract funds in conjunction with the United Nations and World Bank’s auditors assessment report, your payment file was forwarded to us for the immediate transfer of the above quoted part-payment amount of US$980,000.00 to your bank account from their offshore account with us.
The audit reports given to us shows that you have been going through hard times by paying a lot of money to certain groups of individuals and banks for the transfer of your funds, which has been delayed by some dubious officials.
We therefore advice that you stop further communication with any correspondence outside this office since you do not have to pay any money or fee to receive your lottery prize money, inheritance or contract funds,etc as you have met up with the whole funds transfer requirements.
Should you follow our directives, your funds will be credited and reflect in your bank account within the next three (3) bank working days.
For further details on this funds transfer notice and to protect the confidentiality of your information,kindly send your TELEPHONE and FAX number to this email today.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs.Katherine Lloyd
Anti-Fraud Unit,Financial Conduct Authority
25 N.Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HS,United Kingdom
I think these emails are funny but that’s because I can spot them a mile away. Unfortunately there are many unsuspecting individuals that get taken for thousands of dollars each day from these scam artist.
How To Identify Fraudulent and Scam Emails or Phishing Schemes
Fake emails often (but not always) display some of the following characteristics:
- the sender’s email address doesn’t tally with the trusted organization’s website address
- the email is sent from a completely different address or a free web mail address
- the email does not use your proper name, but uses a non-specific greeting like “dear customer”
- a sense of urgency; for example the threat that unless you act immediately your account may be closed
- a prominent website link. These can be forged or seem very similar to the proper address, but even a single character’s difference means a different website
- a request for personal information such as user name, password or bank details
- the email contains spelling and grammatical errors
- you weren’t expecting to get an email from the company that appears to have sent it
- the entire text of the email is contained within an image rather than the usual text format
- the image contains an embedded hyperlink to a bogus site
What should you do if you’ve received a scam email?
- Do not click on any links in the scam email.
- Do not reply to the email or contact the senders in any way.
- If you have clicked on a link in the email, do not supply any information on the website that may open.
- Do not open any attachments that arrive with the email.
Report Fraudulent and Scam Emails or Phishing Schemes
And remember If you think you may have compromised the safety of your bank details and/or have lost money due to fraudulent misuse of your cards, you should immediately contact your bank.
To report potential e-scams, please go the Internet Crime Complaint Center and file a report.
I’d like to hear your comments so please comment below especially if you have you ever received a scam email like this before!
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