Con men are everywhere

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Con men are everywhere

Technology can be challenging to all of us, and con men are everywhere. Phishing emails are one of the easiest way for hackers and thieves to gain access to your information. Once they gain access, they can steal money, use your email for spamming, dig through your emails to find bank account and credit card numbers. This can happen and you won’t know it until it’s too late.

I say this to you because it can happen to all of us, regardless of how tech savvy we think we are.  Phishing emails are slick, and effective otherwise they would not do it.  If you have parents, grandparents, kids, aunts and uncles, employees, friends that are not as savvy.  Please have a talk with them. Show them examples of Phishing emails. Tell them that Microsoft and other companies do NOT call.  It only takes one time and their life savings could disappear. Have the conversation.

Here is a list of things to do if you suspect the email you are reading is FAKE.

Go directly to the site, do not click on the link provided.  For example, if you get an email from Bank of America.  Open a new browser tab, go to their site.

  • Do not call the phone number provided. Contact the company through a KNOWN number
  • If you are savvy enough hover over the link provided and look at where it’s trying to send you (see below)
  • Do not download PDF files – one of the newest Phishing emails now has a PDF in it that when you click it asks you to log in with your username and password (it totally looks legit!)
  • If you have IT support, communicate any suspicious emails to the department or your provider immediately.
  • Inform the sender I.E your friend, your mother, your bank that you believe they have been breached.
  • Inform the police

Below are a few samples of phishing emails, the first one came directly to us last night!

Be safe out there and happy emailing!


About Author

Tina

Tina has more than 20 years of experience as a highly effective professional in the technology industry. In 2012, Tina started Boutique IT Solutions and continues to provide affordable & user-friendly technology solutions to local NEO businesses and their owners. Tina understands the needs of small-medium businesses because she lives it every day, and through that knowledge she has been able to help hundreds of businesses improve the bottom line. We hope you enjoy her blog!

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