COVID-19: WEEKLY TIP #1: Spotting a Phishing Scam E-mail
It's the perfect time for hackers to send phishing scam e-mails with dangerous malware and viruses. Right now, your inbox is filled with "COVID-19" subject lines and coronavirus-focused e-mails.
Hackers are even using phishing scams with fake CDC-gov e-mail address that's not legitimate and spamming inboxes.
How can you tell a phishing e-mail from a legitimate one? Here are a few telltale signs:
- Look closely at the e-mail address to make sure it's spelled correctly.
- Hover over any links in the e-mail (but DON'T CLICK) to see the ACTUAL website you'll be directed to visit. If there's a mismatched or suspicious URL, delete the e-mail immediately.
- Watch for poor grammar and spelling errors.
- Never download an attachment unless you know who sent it and what it is.
Phishing Email Example
As you can see in the Amazon phishing scam example to the left, the email address will be altered in some way, they will typically have a generic title, and when you hover over the link, it will redirect you to a fake site.
Keep in mind:
- Legit companies will not ask you directly for sensitive information via email,
- Companies will send you an email addressing you by name,
- Legitimate companies have domain emails,
- They will not send unsolicited attachments,
- A company's link will match a valid URL,
- A professional company will not have spelling or grammatical errors within the email, and
- A legitimate company will not force you to visit their website.
When in doubt, call the person who supposedly sent the e-mail on the phone to verify it's legitimate.
Want more tips for setting up safe Work From Home networks? Check out our Work From Home Gameplan.
Of course, if you have immediate IT needs, you can always reach us at (608) 291-9723.
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