Phishing Scams: Look out for these tell-tale signs.
Sending scam emails is a common method used by cybercriminals to trick you into downloading malicious software or sharing sensitive information like passwords - this is called phishing. To keep yourself safe online being able to spot tell-tale signs of a phishing scam is really important as it is the most common way people are targeted. Criminals take advantage of hot topics - like COVID-19 - to trick you into clicking, so you always need to be on your guard.
What is Phishing?
Phishing is when cybercriminals try to trick people into clicking malicious links within an email. They often do this by impersonating people you may know, well known companies or services you may use. Once the link is clicked, they often lead to a site which will infect your device with malware or try to convince you into giving away your bank details or passwords.
These scam emails are becoming more and more sophisticated. For example a recent scam includes the passwords of victims, which were stolen in large company data breaches, to add credibility that the criminal has access to your computer (ever through the passwords are really old and likely no longer valid).
The Cyber Helpline is dedicated to helping victims of cybercrime across the UK. Lately, there has been an increase in COVID-19 related scams due to the events going on in the world. Any offer you ger by email that sounds too good to be true probably is!
Common signs of Phishing?
If you receive an email that you think might be suspicious there are a few things you can look out for:
The sender email address is odd. When you send an email you can decide how the sender name is displayed. Click on the ‘From’ section click on the email to see the true email. For example if you get an email from Apple, but the email has been sent from a Gmail or Hotmail email address then it is a scam.
Being addressed in generic terms. Phishing emails will often use generic terms when addressing you as they send the emails out to hundreds of people. “Dear customer” is a common one.
They will often try to create a sense of urgency so that you think about it less. Be careful of any email that tries to get you to act quickly.
Links in the email. Never click a link in an email if you can avoid it - go to the companies website and find the page from there.
“Your account will be locked if you don’t take action”. This is another way cybercriminals try to make you click on links or put in your account details. In these situations phone the provider with the official number from their website.
Spelling mistakes in the email. Less common these days, but still worth looking out for.
Low-quality photos. When cybercriminals are impersonating a company, they will be trying to get your account details. They might use that company’s logo in the email. Often, they use low-quality images so look out for blurry logos.
What to do if you think you are a victim of Phishing?
If you’ve been affected by Phishing, we’ve got a guide for dealing with a Phishing attack. The Cyber Helpline always advises those who have fallen victim to any type of cyber scam to report the incident to the police if you’re in Scotland or to Action Fraud as a national cybercrime reporting centre in England, Wales & Northern Ireland.
Gain further assistance by speaking to our chatbot, which can put you in touch with one of our expert helpline responders. Read more about how to get help here.
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