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Email Fraud
When you first open your email box in the morning, do you recognize everyone who sent you new messages? Do you ever open email from addresses you don’t recognize but who looks legitimate?
Email fraud is one of the biggest problems on the Internet today. And fraudulent emails are becoming harder and harder to spot. Everyday, people are getting scammed into giving away money or even worse…personal information that could lead to identity theft.
How to spot Email Fraud
The point of email fraud is to get you to respond in some way. Some fraudulent emails will promise you a big return on a little investment. Others make you think that you will be giving to a humanitarian organization. The emails they send may look very professional and may seem like a really good idea, but beware! The people who are behind these scams move fast. And your money could be gone before you know it.
Here are some way to spot email fraud:
- Does the email look legitimate?
Unfortunately you can’t go by looks alone these days. Most hackers are sophisticated enough to copy the exact look of a brand you trust- like your bank. They steal logos, colors, fonts and design to trick you into thinking it is your bank.
- Is the email urgent and does it ask you to enter sensitive, personal information like your account number, social security number, etc?
Be extremely cautious if you get an email saying somehting like this:
- We regret to inform you that your account has been suspended
- You are required to verify your account by following the link
It is a common practice of email fruad to scare you into clicking on a link and entering your personal information to “protect” your account. In reality, they’ve led you a fake website and are quietly collecting ALL of your information.
- Are there links in the email?
Take a close look at any links in an email. Hackers may trick you into thinking they are legitimate because they contain all or part of the real company’s name.
- Is there an alternative method for communicating the requested information (i.e., telephone, mail, and physical locations)?
With email fraud, there typical won't be any alternative contact methods.
- Does the email contain an attachment?
And when you open the attachment are you asked you to install software? Hackers sometimes do this so that they can use it to record your keystrokes and online activity.
With all the ways email fraud can trick you into giving away something important, you need some extra help to make sure your PC and personal information stay secure.
How do you protect yourself from email fraud?
First, it is important to understand that legitimate businesses should never ask for your personal information through an email. But since not all legitimate businesses follow this protocol, you should have some extra protection to know the difference between an honest email and a hoax.
Get the Advanced Protection You Need with Fast Protector Browser Security
Fast Protector's Security Manager allows you to corral your favorite sites (like your bank or eBay etc) into security zones that you can see at the bottom of your browser window. Think of security zones like you would a traffic light. Green means "Go", Yellow means "Caution" and Red means "Stop". If you click on a link in an email and it sends you to what you think is your bank's website, simply check the security zone at the bottom of the page.
Since you trust your bank, lets say you have categorized it as:
However, the link you clicked on takes you to a page that looks like either of these:
Since the security zone is different, this immediatly warns you that you are in dangerous waters and it is likely the site is an imposter.
Email fraud is just one of the ways that a hacker can attack your computer. Here's how Fast Protector's multifaceted security protects your computer:
- Stops Spyware at the point of entry by restricting ActiveX to a "safelist" of authorized software
- Blocks popups that are often used by hackers as a gateway to installing programs you don't want on your system.
- Features an automatic security tune-up that scans your PC, detects and corrects current browser security problems.
Email Fraud is extremely dangerous and even the most careful Internet surfer can be tricked. With Fast Protector and Fast Protector on your side, you can start protecting your identity, credit and more—Today!
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