It's hard to ignore the rise in phishing scams these days. They seem to show up in our inboxes with surprising frequency. As awareness of these deceptive techniques grows, scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to lure unsuspecting victims.
One particularly sneaky tactic is impersonating a help desk or support team. You may receive an email stating that your Microsoft 365 account is set to expire today.
the goal? It creates a sense of panic and urgency, encouraging you to act immediately without thinking. So how can you recognize these scams and protect yourself from becoming a victim? Let's go out of our way to protect you.
We're giving away a $500 gift card this holiday season.
Woman opening email on laptop (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
How can I tell if an email is a scam?
Scammers are relatively good at making these scam emails seem professional and legitimate, so it's easy to see why people fall prey to this type of tactic. They even go so far as to change the email sender's contact information to something legitimate, such as an actual help desk, IT department, or company.
If you look further into the email sender's contact information, you will see that the actual email address has a different domain address and is random. For example, the name in the “From” field of an email will say Help Desk, but when you click on the contact information to view the email address, it will contain the domain @magicpin.in, @gmail.com, or @. Masu. hotmail.com etc. If the email appears to be from Microsoft, the domain is expected to be Microsoft.com.
microsoft scam email (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
Don't click on that link. How to identify and prevent phishing attacks in your inbox
How are victims exploited by this type of fraud?
While receiving a “fake” email may seem relatively benign, it can be a dangerous slope leading to identity theft and fraud. Here's how scammers take advantage of victims with these phishing email scams:
1. Email verification: You can verify that the email account that sent you the message is active by opening or interacting with the email (clicking a link or responding to the email). Scammers often send random emails to people whose email addresses they obtained from data breaches, the dark web, or data harvesting.
2. Information gathering: Replying to an email or using any other contact information provided to “recover” your account confirms that the contact's email address is valid and that you are not being sold financial or personal information. There is a possibility that When you call the number provided, we also associate your phone number with your email address so that we can continue to update information about you.
3. Malware distribution: Emails often include buttons, links, or attachments. Clicking on attachments can download malware or viruses to your device. Clicking on links in emails may take you to websites that collect personal or financial information or download malware or viruses to your device.
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What should I do if I receive a phishing email like this?
There are some simple steps you can take if you receive a suspected phishing email.
1. Do not click on links or buttons or download or open attachments. This helps prevent malware from being installed and protects your personal information. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that can install malware and access your personal information is to install antivirus software on all your devices. This protection also warns you about phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection products of 2024 for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
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2. Do not respond or contact these scammers via email or phone. Engaging with them will verify that your email address is valid, which could lead to further fraud.
3. If your email client allows it, you can block the sender and report it as a phishing email. This action helps protect yourself and others by alerting your email provider to malicious activity.
4. Verify the legitimacy of the email by checking the organization's official website. By accessing your account directly, you can avoid being fooled by fake notifications and receive accurate information.
5. If your account offers two-factor authentication, enable it. 2FA It adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for fraudsters to gain access even if they know your password.
6. Invest in a personal data deletion service. Reducing your digital footprint minimizes the risk of identity theft and fraud based on collected data. No service promises to remove all data from the Internet, but if you want to constantly monitor and automate the process of removing information from hundreds of sites over an extended period of time, a removal service is a good option. is the best. Check out my recommended data deletion services here.
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Cart important points
Phishing scams are becoming more and more sophisticated, but staying informed and vigilant can greatly reduce your risk. By developing good digital habits and following the tips we've shared here, you can navigate the online world with confidence. Remember, awareness is your best defense. Please continue to share this knowledge with your friends and family so we can all protect ourselves from these deceptive tactics.
Email us at What's the most unusual or sophisticated phishing attempt you've come across? And how did you recognize it as a scam? Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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