It’s hard to ignore the rise of phishing scams these days; seem to pop up in our inboxes with alarming frequency. As we become more aware of these deceptive tactics, scammers are also upping their game, using increasingly sophisticated methods to lure unsuspecting victims.

A particularly infuriating tactic involves impersonating a help desk or support team. You may receive an email claiming that your account Microsoft 365 is set to expire today. The objective? To create a sense of panic and urgency, causing you to act quickly without thinking. So how do you recognize these scams and protect yourself from falling victim to them? Let’s go that way to keep you safe.

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How can you tell if it’s a scam email?

It’s easy to see why people fall prey to these types of tactics, as scammers do a relatively good job of making these scam emails look professional and legitimate. They go so far as to change the email sender’s contact information to something legitimate, such as a help desk or IT department or business.

Upon further examination of the email sender’s contact information, you can see that the domain address of the actual email address is different and random. For example, the name in the “From” field of the email can be read from the help desk, but if you click on the contact information to see the email address, it will have a domain of @magicpin. in, @gmail.com or @ hotmail.com etc. If it’s supposed to be an email from Microsoft, you’d expect the domain to be microsoft.com.

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How are victims of these types of scams exploited?

Getting a “fake” email may seem relatively benign, but it can be a slippery slope to identity theft and fraud. Below are ways scammers take advantage of their victims with these phishing email scams:

1) Email validation: By opening the email or interacting with the email (clicking on a link or replying to it), you can validate that the email account they sent is active. Scammers often email random people with email addresses they got from data breaches, the dark web, or data harvesting.

2) Collection of information: If you reply to the email or use any other contact information they provide to “restore” your account, this will validate that the email address they contacted is active and they will probably hard sell you for information financial and personal. If you call any phone number they give you, they will also link your phone number to your email address so they can continue to update their information about you.

3) Malware distribution: They will often have buttons, links or attachments included in the email. If you click on the attachment, it may download malware or a virus to your device. If you click on a link that is provided in the email, it may take you to a website that will collect your information. personal and financial information or will download malware or viruses to your device.

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What should you do if you receive these types of phishing emails?

There are some simple steps you can take if you receive an email that you suspect is a phishing scam.

1) Do not click on any links or buttons and do not download or open any attachments: This helps prevent the installation of malware and protects your personal information. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware, which could access your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to e- phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

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2) Do not respond to or contact these scammers by email or phone: Interacting with them can confirm that your address email is active, which leads to more scams.

3) If your client email allows this, you can block the sender and report it as a phishing email: This action helps protect you. and others by alerting your provider. of email regarding malicious activities.

4) Check the legitimacy of the email by checking the official website of the organization: Accessing your account directly ensures that you receive accurate information without being fooled by fake notifications.

5) If two-factor authentication is offered for your account, enable it: 2FA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for scammers to gain access even if they have your password.

6) Invest in personal data removal services: Reducing your footprint digital minimizes the risk of identity theft and scams based on the data collected. While no service promises to remove all of your data from the internet, having a removal service is great if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing your information. from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time.

A service like Incognito can help you remove all this personal information from the internet. It has a very clean interface and will scan 195 websites for your information. and will remove them and keep them removed.

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Kurt’s main takeaways

Phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, but staying informed and vigilant can significantly reduce your risk. By adopting good digital habits and following the tips we’ve shared, you can navigate the online world with confidence. Remember, awareness is your best defense, so keep sharing this knowledge with friends and family to help protect everyone from these deceptive tactics.

What’s the most unusual or clever phishing attempt you’ve come across and how did you recognize it as a scam? Let us know in the comments below.

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