With phishing emails abound on the internet, it seems like every month there is a new scam to steal people's personal information.
When your personal information gets into the hands of scammers they can steal your identity.
Once they have stolen your identity they can carry out fraudulent activities against you and use your name to carry out fraudulent activities against others. This can get serious fast!
Here is a look at what you need to know to protect yourself from a phishing email.
Many of these emails are sent in mass.
Most people don't respond but those who do often fall for the scam.
Phishing emails usually have an enticing link that asks you to verify your account or to confirm your billing address.
The links in the email will usually take you to a website that looks like that of your bank or any other financial institution. The moment you enter personal information it will be stolen by the scammers.
Watch our Video: What is a Phishing Email?
A phishing scam is often identified by its need for you to reveal confidential information by email or an instant message. There are usually some scare tactics involved and it almost always needs your urgent response.
Often there will be links for you to click on and it will take you to subdomains or URLs with misspelled words. There will often be no personal greeting and the information will not be customized.
Do not provide personal information to anyone via email. You should look for the security signature on the site.
You need to see the HTTPS in the web address of any website you connect with. There should also be a padlock in the browser.
If you are suspicious about anything contact your bank. Make sure that you have strong passwords for all your accounts.
Your computer needs to be your first line of protection. This means that you need antivirus software and ensure that your computer has a firewall. Use a spam filter to sift through your messages.
It's okay to start with free anti-virus software but it is always best to upgrade as soon as you can. This is because the free version of this type of software often cannot keep you updated fast enough.
Anyone can be the target of a phishing email scam. The key to avoiding these types of scams is to be on high alert at all times.
Do not click links in emails from persons you don't know?
Never give out personal information in an email. If you get emails from your financial institution call and verify that they sent you a message.
Ignore emails that ask you to respond urgently due to dire consequences to yourself or someone you may not even know.
Being aware and asking the right questions will help you avoid a scam.
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