Recognizing Phishing e-mails

Most scams, hoaxes, malware, and ransomware start with a phishing email, designed to trick you into giving out your personal information, account sign-in credentials, or credit card details. The phishing email asks you to click a link, open an attached file, or call a phone number. The scammer wants your valuables: your identity, money, account access, or to infect your device with spyware and malware. They may send spam from your email to your contacts.

You used to be able to spot phishing emails due to the bad grammar used by the scammers. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), phishing emails are more sophisticated, have better spelling and grammar, look more authentic, and can fool even the most savvy computer users. The best clue to spot a phishing email is to check the FROM address; hover over the sender’s name – if it does not match the company name in the message, it is a phishing scam.

Scammers are masters of social engineering – getting you to do what they want. Phishing emails appeal to your emotions and curiosity, often impersonating trusted companies by using their logos. Here are frequent email scams and what NOT TO DO:

1. “Greed” (too good to be true!)
   The phishing scam – to claim your $100 gift card from [CVS / Target / Home Depot / …] complete this survey. 
   The truth is – You did not win anything; DO NOT fill out any unsolicited surveys.
   
2. “Fear” (scares you)
   The phishing scam – call or click for a refund if you did not make this large purchase from [Amazon / Xfinity / …] 
   The truth is – There is no purchase on your credit card; DO NOT call the scammer or click any links.
   
3. “Protection Expired” (cause for concern)
   The phishing scam – Your [Norton / McAfee / …] security has expired and you will be charged $hundreds to renew. 
   The truth is – You do not have this software; you are not being charged; DO NOT call the number in the email.
   
4. “Need Your Personal Information” (promise of a windfall)
   The phishing scam – Need your personal information to release millions of dollars found at [airport / embassy / post office / inheritance /African country …]
   The truth is – There is no money. DO NOT provide any personal information to anyone you do not know.
   
5. “New Medical Information” (makes you nervous)
   The phishing scam – Need your Medicare number to issue you a new card [claims to be from the Social Security Office]
   The truth is -You have your card; DO NOT give out your Medicare number or personal information to anyone.
   
6. “Package not Delivered” (curiosity)
   The phishing scam – Your [DHL / UPS / FedEx / USPS …] Package Was Not Delivered; click the attachment for details.
   The truth is – There is no package. DO NOT click. This delivers malware to your computer.
   
7. Multiple e-mails about same topic (Scam-in-a-Box)
   The phishing scams – Scammers bought e-mail addresses and how to run a scam to steal your money or your identity.
   What to do – DELETE all of the duplicate emails.

I am committed to protecting your computers at an affordable price. Thank you for trusting me to keep your computers healthy. Contact us at 239-567-0104 when it is time to renew your protection software, join our Loving Your Computer training classes, or to help you select and set up your new devices. Be well.

By Linda Lindquist, February 24, 2025
https://www.computerandinternethelp.com/contact-us

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