The biggest online threat these days is email that’s made to look like it was sent from a well-known source, such as your bank, credit card company, online retailer, or shipping service.
The goal of these phishing attacks is to get you to click on a link and provide your personal information. If you do, the fraudsters will use that information to hack your existing accounts or open new ones in your name.
Spotting phishing email is getting harder to do, especially when you’re in a hurry.
“The attackers have gotten really good, and that’s the scary thing,” said Hank Schless, senior manager of security solutions at Lookout, a digital security company. “At first glance, these scams look a lot more legitimate these days than they did even just a couple of years ago.”
The fraudsters creating the bogus email use real company logos and images stolen from corporate websites. The days of looking for typos or poor English are long gone.
That why it’s so important to always look at the sender’s email address. You may find that an email that’s supposedly from a well-known company was sent from a personal email address. That means the crooks are using a hacked email account and hoping you won’t notice.
“Even if the sender’s name looks legitimate,” Schless said, “you can tap that one more time and it will drop down what their actual email address is. And that will almost always be something that does not align with the organization.”
Remember, anyone who has your personally identifying information, such as log-in credentials – whether it’s a business or government agency – will never send you an email asking you to provide that information. They already have it!
One more tip: Trust your gut. If an email seems a little strange or fishy (excuse the pun), stop, and think before you respond. If you want to make sure it’s a scam, contact the real company using a phone number or email you know is legitimate. Don’t trust any contact information on that email.
More Info: How to Spot and Protect Yourself from Phishing
If you get an email, text, or phone call and don’t know what to do, call the Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 before you provide any personal information or money. You do not need to be an AARP member to use this free service.
