It’s hard to ignore the rise of phishing scams these days. They seem to appear in our inboxes with alarming frequency. As we become more aware deceptive tacticsScammers are also upping their game, using increasingly sophisticated methods to lure unsuspecting victims.

A particularly sneaky tactic is to impersonate a help desk or support team. You might receive an email stating that your Microsoft 365 account will expire today.

The goal? Create a sense of panic and urgency, prompting you to act quickly without thinking. So how to recognize these scams and protect yourself to be a victim of it? Let’s follow this path to ensure your safety.

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A woman opening an email on a laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How do I know if it’s a fraudulent email?

It’s easy to understand why people fall prey to these kinds of tactics, as scammers are relatively successful at making these scam emails appear professional and legitimate. They go so far as to change the email sender’s contact information to something legitimate, like a real help desk, IT department, or company.

After a closer look at the email sender’s contact details, you can see that the domain address of the actual email address is different and random. For example, the name in the “From” field of the email might be from Help Desk, but if you click on the contact information to view the email address, the domain will be from @magicpin.in, @gmail.com or @hotmail.cometc. If it’s an email purporting to be from Microsoft, you’d expect the domain to be microsoft.com.

Fraudulent email from Microsoft (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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How are victims exploited by these types of scams?

Receiving a “fake” email may seem relatively harmless, but it can be a slippery slope toward identity theft and fraud. Below are the ways fraudsters take advantage of their victims with these phishing email scams:

1. Email validation: By opening the email or interacting with the email (by clicking or replying to a link), you can validate that the email account they sent a message to is active. Often, scammers send random emails to people whose email addresses they obtained through data breaches, the dark web, or data harvesting.

2. Collection of information: If you reply to the email or use any other contact information they provide to “reinstate” your account, this will confirm that the email address they contacted is active, and they will likely sell you hard financial and personal information. If you call one of the phone numbers they provide you, they will also connect your phone number to your email address so they can continue to update their information about you.

3. Malware Distribution: They will often have buttons, links, or attachments included in the email. If you click on the attachment, it may download malware or a virus to your device. If you click on a link provided in the email, it may take you to a website that will collect your personal and financial information or download malware or viruses to your device.

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What should you do if you receive these types of phishing emails?

There are a few simple steps you can take if you receive an email that you suspect is a phishing scam.

1. Do not click any links or buttons or download or open any attachments: This helps prevent the installation of malware and protects your personal information. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to install antivirus software on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, protecting your personal information and digital assets. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

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2. Do not respond or contact these scammers via email or phone: Interacting with them can confirm that your email address is active, leading to more scams.

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 of malicious activity.

4. Check the legitimacy of the email by visiting the organization’s official website: Direct access to your account ensures that you receive accurate information without falling for false notifications.

5. If two-factor authentication is offered for your account, enable it: 2FA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for fraudsters to gain access even if they know your password.

6. Invest in personal data deletion services: Reducing your digital footprint minimizes the risk of identity theft and scams based on the data collected. While no service promises to remove all of your data from the Internet, having a removal service is ideal if you want to continuously monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a longer period of time. long. Check out my top picks for data deletion services here.

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Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Phishing scams are becoming more sophisticated, but staying informed and vigilant can significantly reduce your risks. By adopting good digital habits and following the tips we’ve shared, you can navigate the online world with confidence. Remember, awareness is your best defense, so continue to share this knowledge with friends and family to help protect everyone from these deceptive tactics.

What’s the most unusual or clever phishing attempt you’ve encountered, and how did you know it was a scam? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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