How can I tell if an email is spam?

How can I tell if an email is spam?

Now-a-days hackers and scammers are using any tactic they can to trick you into falling for their scheme, causing you all sorts of problems and loss if you become a victim.  Don’t fall for it – arm yourself with the basic defenses to keep you and your loved ones safe when the bad guys come around.

5 Tips to Avoid Email Frauds

1.  Trust Your Gut

If you receive an email and your initial reaction to it leaves you feeling like something isn’t quite right, delete it.  Your suspicions are more than likely correct and the sender should not be trusted.

2.  Analyze the Sender’s Email Address

Look to see who the email is from.  Do you recognize his/her name, the company he/she works for, or even the email server name (i.e. @gmail.com, @yahoo.com, @outlook.com, etc.)?  No?  Then delete it.  Does the sender’s email address look logical or is it a compilation of random letters and numbers?  Yes?  Then delete it.

3.  Focus on the Email’s Message

If the email has passed the first two tips, look at the email’s content.  Does the overall message make sense?  Are sentences properly formed with few errors in spelling or grammar?  If there is an email signature, do you recognize the name or any of the contact information (i.e. mailing address, phone number, website, etc.)?  If the answer to any of these questions is “No”, delete it and move on with your day.

First off, if you don’t trust the person sending you the email never click a link within it.  Period.  However, if you are uncertain, look at any links within the email or hover your mouse over the hyperlinked word, but DO NOT CLICK IT, just look at it.  Does it make sense, or is the URL something weird like “anon.click/tikev12”?  Again, if you don’t recognize the URL or website, don’t trust it and send the email to your trash.

5.  Delete is Your Friend

When in doubt, use the delete button and don’t look back.  If the email is valid and urgent enough the sender will contact you in some other way.

Along with these tips, you should also make sure your computer’s software and anti-virus are up to date.  In the off chance you accidentally engage with a harmful email or link, you’ll have a back-up.  Plus, these are just good, computer practices to follow.  Need an anti-virus software?  Contact our office, 800-250-8927, we’ll get you setup with a solution!

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