First, let’s start by immediately stating ALL emails should be regarded as a potential scam. It is only after reading the email should we determine if it is legitimate. Meaning, if you received an email from your best friend, it should be thought of as a scam until you read it and determined, through context, words, phrases, and technical details, that it is legit.
Below are common ways in which we have seen scammers try and phish for information from clients.
- Email from someone close or a boss asking you to email them back. They will usually say they are in need and for you to please email them back ASAP. This is not real. Your boss is not going to email you asking for help and then for you to email them back so they can tell you how to help. Your priest is not going to ask you for financial help because they are at the store and forgot their wallet.
- If you personally know the individual emailing you, call them or send them a text message asking if the email is legit.
- Microsoft WILL NEVER send you an email stating your password has expired and to “Click Here” to renew it. NEVER CLICK ON THE LINK!
- The IRS is not going to email you to solve your tax problem.
Let's stay safe and keep our information private. These scammers have become very good at pretending to be someone important and will try everything they know to trick you into providing information and/or money/gift cards.
- Check the from email address. Is it from your friend or boss? Or is the name the only correct information? Meaning, the email could be from your best friend John McJohnny. You know his email is JohnMcJohnny2cool@gmail.com. However, upon investigation, you see this email is from “John McJohnny” with an email address of 3dr4@irr.co. This is easy to glance over and not pay attention to. Make sure you are diligent in your investigation.
- Spelling and grammar mistakes are common in scam emails. If Microsoft just sent you an email but it seems they hired an 8-year-old to write it, it’s a scam.
- Unprofessional formatting is also very common. If the style of the email looks off and not usual for the company or person, don’t trust it. It will most likely be a scam.
If you don’t know or have doubts, don’t respond, and ask us for help. We can quickly determine if the email is real or a scam.