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Email Scams: What to Watch Out For

Email Scams: What to Watch Out For

Email scams, also known as phishing scams, are a popular fraudulent activity many criminals attempt to make use of. Usually, the emails are trying to steal your personal information such as bank details; they can pose as your bank or lull you into a false sense of complacently, by acting as if you’ve won a competition, for example. Other methods include infecting your computer with malicious malware, which will infect your computer or any other electronic device you’re using.

Luckily, there are many ways for you to stay one step ahead of phishing scams. Here’s what to watch out for when it comes to deciding whether an email is trustworthy or not.

Check the ‘From’ Address

The name may seem trustworthy and professional; however, if you hover over the sender’s name, you may be surprised to find out that it was sent by the email address ‘[email protected]’. Ask yourself, would your bank be contacting you through a Hotmail address? Of course, the answer would be a firm ‘no.’

How is the Greeting?

It’s easy to find out your name, but that doesn’t mean all scammers are likely to send you a personal email. They’re trying to hit as many people as they can, and so the email is more than likely to start with a simple and impersonal ‘Hi.’ Once this quick greeting is out-of-the-way, you’ll find that the email is rushing to get to the point: asking for your personal and bank details.

Cross-Examine the Branding

Anyone can work their magic with Photoshop, but that doesn’t mean the logo will be completely accurate. Check everything, from the line work to the coloring, to the slogan (if there is one), and whether they sit in the same place, they usually do. You should also check it against the last genuine email you were sent by them.

Are They Asking for Personal or Bank Details?

Not one company or business would ask you to input your personal or bank details through an email, and so if they are asking you to sign-in or update your existing details, it is likely going to be a scam. Personal details they may ask of you include:

  • Credit card number
  • PIN number
  • Credit card security code
  • Mother’s maiden name
  • The answer for any typical security questions, such as the name of your first pet or the street you grew up on.

Check the Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling

Professional emails should not be littered with grammar, spelling or punctuation mistakes. Font styles and size should be consistent, and usually, a company will use the same font throughout all their company emails.

Make Contact with the Real Company

The safest route you can take is to contact the company directly and ask them whether they have sent a recent email to you. The company will be able to check, and with social media, they are incredibly quick at picking up these issues customers may be experiencing. Big companies are usually aware of scams that are currently circulating, and so they may already have an FAQ on scams to look out for.

How and Why to Make Sure the Website You Are on is Safe

How and Why to Make Sure the Website You Are on is Safe

You need to ensure the websites you are going on are safe and secure, to reduce the likelihood of hacks, viruses, and scams. A secure website is one that is completely free from malware and viruses while encrypting its data so that your personal and financial data cannot be compromised. Not all sites, however, are safe. Here’s how you can spot the difference between a website that is up to code and one that is not, and, most importantly, why you need to be checking the security of the websites you are using.

What to Look Out For

HTTPS

Before you enter any personal information, check the URL in the address bar and see whether it starts with ‘https://’. You should only use websites that have the ‘S’ present, as the ‘S’ signifies that the website is using a communications protocol for secure communications. Never enter any sensitive information on a website that only uses HTTP. You should also only use a website that makes use of SSL (Secure Socket Layering), as it can help fight against eavesdropping across servers.

You also need to ensure the website you are on has a padlock in the address bar, as this proves a website’s security features more so than the HTTPS does.

Secure and Verified Badge

Check the bottom of the website you’re on for a badge that marks the site as trustworthy and secure. While scammers could easily recreate the badge, hover over the badge to see if there is a pop-up that should display a legitimate certificate and verification information. If the information does not match up, then the website is likely not secure.

Contact Information

The website should have a detailed ‘contact us’ section, where you can find valid email addresses, phone numbers and social media channels that are active, personal, and look to be run by a real person. You could, of course, contact the site owner to see whether there is a human site to the website. If you phone up and a teenager answers, then you know the website isn’t legitimate.

The Website’s Privacy Policy

Websites should explain how your data is collected, what it is collected for, how it is used and what security measures the company have in place so that they can protect your sensitive data. Take your time to read through their policy; if a website is lacking an in-depth analysis, then take your business elsewhere.

Why You Need to Check a Website’s Security

If you are on a website to purchase something, then any personal or bank details you use can be stored and stolen, if not by the company, then by anyone who can hack into their unprotected systems. With your personal details, criminals will be able to access your accounts and either steal your money, identity, or both. Unsecured websites can also infect your laptop or other electronic devices with a virus which could steal your data or hold your data hostage. Ransomware is a problem for businesses of all sizes, as well as everyday people.

Child Identity Theft: It’s Not Only Adults Affected

Child Identity Theft: It’s Not Only Adults Affected

In today’s digital day and age, we are all more aware than ever before of the risk of identity theft, particularly in the form of cyber hacks, which result in our personal and private information being stolen and used by fraudsters to commit crimes under your name. We are often reminded of the risks involved in sharing our personal information, and the ways we can protect against becoming a victim of this very common crime.

When you hear the term ‘identity theft,’ one group of society that you may not immediately consider being the victim are children. However, a recent study comprised by Javelin Research found that in the United States alone, over 1 million children were victims of identity theft in 2017. Within this statistic, 2/3 of victims were under the age of eight, and 20% were 8-12 years old.

Why are children victimized?

Children are, in particular, victimized by fraudsters because, in general, it is much harder to detect identity theft of a child. This is mainly because children will have no idea that their identity and information is being used by someone else. It is harder to track because children will have clean credit card records, and there is no real way of knowing that the identity has been stolen. In terms of the type of information that is stolen, this includes your child’s social security number and paper documents such as birth certificates and any financial records. A child’s online footprints are now also developed much earlier due to digitalization, meaning school and medical records, for example, are much easier to track down.

How can I prevent it?

In terms of trying to prevent your child from becoming a victim of identity theft, steps to take include being vigilant with any important documents in the home. It may shock you to learn that statistically, in a third of cases of identity theft, family friends are the fraud perpetrator. Therefore, regarding any documents in the home, try and keep these under lock and key, as you never know who could potentially take advantage and try and steal your child’s identity.

Teaching your child early on about the importance of identity theft is essential, too, as it is near impossible to keep an eye on what your child is sharing with others once they are of an age to go online independently. Therefore, teaching your children about the importance of keeping their information private can be a vital step to take that can help prevent identity theft occurring. Remind them of information they must not reveal, such as their full name, address, phone number, and school details. If your child uses social media platforms or online forums, it is best to remain anonymous as any information can be picked up by a fraudster.

Furthermore, you need to be vigilant and teach your child to avoid clicking on any unknown websites that could be phishing websites or pop-ups that could give potential hackers the opportunity to access private information. You can also utilize identity protection software that can keep you and your family’s information private.

Identity theft is something adults may be all-too-aware of as they surf the online world. However, your children need protecting too at all times. While it’s hard to believe that someone would use your child’s details, it happens, and prevention is key in ensuring your child doesn’t become a victim.