The troubling increase in cyber and data breaches is often associated with overt criminal hacks – they make the headlines and cause companies billions of dollars per year. However, one of the more overlooked ways that pesky (or dangerous) bugs or viruses can be infused into your organization’s network is much more commonplace and seemingly harmless.

Spam is defined as unsolicited electronic junk mail, generally advertising for some product sent to a mass audience.  Although the obvious nuisance of spam is wasting people’s time,  spam also has the ability to clog network bandwidth. The more insidious form of spam emails is phishing, which is defined as an email scam designed to fraudulently collect personal and confidential data and information from the recipients.

recognize spam

Tell-Tale Signs of Spam and
Phishing E-mails

There is no doubt about it, email has revolutionized the way we communicate. We can send messages, documents, photos and contracts globally within seconds, something not even dreamed of 25 years ago. Still, with every fantastic and highly useful innovation, we can expect the scammers, hackers, and criminals to figure out a way to exploit it.

These tips will help you to train your employees to recognize spam and phishing emails. Being vigilant can help you to keep your company from becoming a victim of the scammers and cheaters.

  1. Check the Email Address: Scammers will often utilize an email address which is very familiar, then change it slightly. For instance, your bank may send you emails from CustomerService@YourBank.com, while a scammer’s email comes from CustomerService@1YourBank.com.
  2. Consider the Content: No legitimate bank or financial institution will ever solicit personal or company information over email – never. The email address may look valid, and the page the link sends you to may be designed exactly like your financial institution, but beware. If they are asking for personal (or corporate) information via email, you are being scammed.
  3. Hover Your Mouse Over the Provided Link: Before clicking any link, hover your mouse over it. The site the link is connecting you to will display. If you think you have gotten a link from a legitimate business partner, but the page it displays is not familiar, do not click. Important Note: Many scammers use Bitly, a service which shortens email links utilizing a string of characters. A valid email from a valid company will display its full website.
  4. Winning Contests You Never Entered: Human nature as it is, it is difficult to resist clicking a link promising you a grand prize. But no one wins a contest they didn’t enter, and there are unfortunately no companies offering random cash prizes to individuals. So unless you were waiting to hear about something specific, do not click that link!
  5. Trust the Anti-Virus Software: Most email services on the market today contain anti-virus capability, and your organization may also flag suspicious emails. If an email comes through with an attached warning, it is not worth the risk. Believe the software and delete the email, without opening it at all.
  6. Make the Call: If you receive an email from a trusted source, but it contains a link to a product, page or offer you were not expecting – or that you wouldn’t expect during the normal course of business – simply call the sender to verify that it came from them. This is valid with corporations as well as personal emails which often get hacked due to low security and privacy controls. These links often contain malicious malware that can cause serious damage.
  7. Notice Spelling and Grammatical Errors: Your corporate partners and vendors generally have a fairly stringent proofing protocol before official emails are sent out. Typos happen, but if the email is written with odd grammar or poor spelling, it is likely to be spam.
  8. Your Account Has Been Suspended: If you receive an email notifying you that services have been suspended and you need to click through immediately to rectify the situation, delete the email. If you have a concern, call the vendor on the phone to verify the situation.In 2019, cybercriminals and scammers are on a continual mission to infiltrate your company and wreak havoc. Train your employees to recognize spam and phishing schemes, and you will likely avoid a lot of headaches.If you would like more advice and recommendations on how to best protect your company from all forms of cybercrime, call the experts at Alliance IT. Our experienced team spends every day actively monitoring new threats and making sure our customers are protected. How can we help you?