4 Ways to Spot A Phishing Email: Protect Your Data During Cyber Security Month
As technology continuously expands, many of our everyday activities now require online sign in credentials. It is common to receive emails, notices, and receipts from shopping online to paying bills. Most of the emails you receive are legitimate, but knowing how to spot a fake (aka phishing email) is important.
As of 2022, over 3 billion phishing emails are sent daily, so knowing how to protect your information is increasingly important. So, how can you ensure that you only interact with genuine emails? Below are 4 tips for quality-checking emails to test if they are authentic.
#1 Investigate the Sender
Scammers may try to create email addresses similar to the brand they are pretending to be. For example, if you receive an email from @buckeyebr0adband.com, the 0 in the place of the o reveals the email is not genuine.
In another instance, the sender’s email could be totally unrelated to the brand, which should not be the case for a safe email. It can be easy to miss, but if you keep it in mind, you may be saving yourself from a big headache.
#2 Scan Dates and Times
Generally, many organizations, such as Buckeye Broadband, will not send emails late at night or early in the morning. If you are suspicious about an email and it was sent at an odd time or date, you may want to stay cautious and check for a way to contact the brand to confirm the email.
#3 Look Closely at the Language Used
Most scam and phishing emails will create a sense of urgency or scare you into quickly giving them the information they want. Words like “past due” or “warning” are used to get your attention. Be cautious if you see these terms.
#4 Check for Accuracy
If the email sent to you mentions your account number or any personal information- double check and verify its accuracy. In addition to your own information, you can compare the email’s formatting to previous emails from the brand. If they are consistent, there is a better chance of them being authentic.
What's Next?
Trust your gut. If an email seems off, it does not hurt to double check. If you think your information was compromised by a phishing email, reach out to the company and change your password as soon as possible.
Rest assured, even when you aren’t confident about your ability to avoid email phishing scams, Buckeye Broadband provides the best protection for its customers at all levels of high-speed Internet service. Have any questions or concerns, please contact our Buckeye Brainiacs who are available to assist you 24/7.
