Many of us start our day by checking our emails. While you may think you recognise a sender, a little bit of research may show that a message hasn’t come from a trusted provider. Learning how to spot the signs of scam emails can help to protect you from cyber threats.
Even emails that claim to be from a colleague or service you trust could put you at risk. Follow our tips for spotting scam emails and undergo cyber security training that could help to save your data and systems from malicious intent.
The email address that a message comes from can quickly clue you into whether it is legitimate or not. Take this email that we received recently as an example:
As a business, we use HubSpot. However, that is not the email address that their communications come from. That was our initial indicator that this email did not come from HubSpot.
The name of the sender itself was also in lower case. A well-known company like HubSpot wouldn’t make such basic mechanical errors when sending out communications.
A quick Google search of the sender address can also help to protect you. Use the information provided by security websites and users alike to help you figure out if an email is legitimate or likely to be a scam. Taking additional training could also offer you additional protection.
Carefully reading the content, and avoiding clicking on any links, is also a good idea. You may notice some of the content doesn’t match up to any communications you have missed in the past.
Looking for tell-tale signs of poor English, right down to any inconspicuous spelling or grammar errors, can also be helpful.
Notice how, in this email, the name is incorrectly typed. All HubSpot communications would have correct capitalisations in the name. Therefore, we can again deduce that this email is not legitimate.
Hovering, but NOT clicking, on the link also shows that the address does not go to hubspot.com, meaning it will send you elsewhere. Clicking this link may very well take you to a page that looks like a legitimate website, but could corrupt your systems or, should you input your login credentials, be used to access your real account.
Sadly, while these are good practices to follow, there are still ways that hackers can catch you off guard.
Email spoofing is a tool that hackers use to make that sender address appear like one that you know and trust. There may even be times where an email looks like it has been sent to you from your own email account. While this can be daunting, it doesn’t mean that your email has been compromised. Even so, you may want to change your passwords for that extra bit of reassurance.
Being cautious can ensure that hackers have no power against your accounts and business systems as you won’t be caught unaware.
All individuals have a chance of being targeted by cyber criminals. While you may not be able to prevent their attempts or emails from entering your inbox, you do have the power to stop them going any further.
To avoid becoming a cyber-crime victim:
One of the easiest ways to work on your cyber security can be through educating yourself and your team on the best practices through additional training. This will help you to spot the signs of scams, phishing, and potentially hazardous material.
Opting for penetration testing could also be ideal. This will highlight any existing weaknesses in your company’s security measures. These weaknesses will then be patched up and retested, until there are no footholds that hackers could use to gain entry to your systems. This way, even if an attempt does take place, you will then be mitigating the fallout and preventing the virus or forced entry from spreading throughout your server.
Speak to Syn-Star today to see how you can improve your cyber security and stop scam emails in their tracks.
Anne-Marie Blazdell
Anne-Marie Blazdell is a Marketing & Communications Manager with expertise in digital marketing, content creation, and IT solutions. With a strong foundation in graphic design, she trained at Farnborough College of Technology and Southampton Solent University before advancing into marketing and business IT support.
Since joining Syn-Star in 2022, Anne-Marie has specialised in crafting SEO-optimised website content, managing social media, and helping businesses navigate the complexities of IT. Her work bridges the gap between technology and business, making IT more accessible and effective.
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Anne-Marie Blazdell
Anne-Marie Blazdell is a Marketing & Communications Manager with expertise in digital marketing, content creation, and IT solutions. With a strong foundation in graphic design, she trained at Farnborough College of Technology and Southampton Solent University before advancing into marketing and business IT support.
Since joining Syn-Star in 2022, Anne-Marie has specialised in crafting SEO-optimised website content, managing social media, and helping businesses navigate the complexities of IT. Her work bridges the gap between technology and business, making IT more accessible and effective.
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