Email is a great is email real but it can also be a vector for online fraud such as phishing and malware. Cybercriminals are constantly innovating ways to trick unsuspecting victims into divulging personal information. The best way to protect yourself is to verify all details of an email sender face-to-face or via phone. It is also helpful to check the ‘From’ address and the routing path of an email as this can reveal a variety of red flags that the email is not legitimate.
A common sign of a fake email is the presence of many spelling and grammatical errors. Legitimate companies follow strict etiquette and editorial standards so it is unusual to see multiple mistakes in a single email. Another good tip is to hover over any links in an email to see the website address that you will be sent to. If the website address looks suspicious or not a typical web address, then this is probably a scam.
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In addition, any emails that request login credentials or payment information should be treated with extreme caution. This is because phishing attacks are increasingly sophisticated and often forge login pages or a webpage that asks for sensitive information.
It is also worth considering whether the email is from a well-known brand or organisation. It is not unusual for criminals to impersonate banks, credit card companies, online shops and auction sites. These scams are called phishing because they try to lure you into clicking on a link and visiting a malicious website that attempts to steal your information.