Tips to help spot a fraudulent email

Below here is some advice on spotting fraudulent emails from our Website host, Jon at Otters Pool Studio. I though we all could benefit from a reminder on this subject:

As online activity continues to take over our daily lives, so does the activities of fraudsters and scammers who try to trick us into parting with our money. These tricks are becoming increasingly convincing, with logos and branding used to make emails look authentic.

But there are usually tell-tale signs that an email is fraudulent.

• Firstly, the overall feel of the message would have some urgency, trying to prompt you to acting hastily. Is your broadband really going to be switched off tomorrow if you don’t renew today?

• Then check the senders email address. Even if the name looks right, the address won’t be – it may be close, but scrutinise carefully. Emails from lloyds.co.uk are not the same as from 11oyds.co.uk.

• Check the finer details – is the email wanting payment in dollars, for your account that is usually paid in sterling?

• Is it asking for payment at a time of year that is not the time of year that you usually pay this bill?

• If the sender is offering to buy something from you, do they want to pay by cheque?

• Generally, if something doesn’t look for feel right, it probably isn’t.

And of course, the one overriding rule is that you NEVER click on a link in an email unless you are 100% certain where the email came from and where the link is taking you.

For added protection, use security software (McAfee, Norton, etc) on all of your devices, including phones, and keep the updates up-to-date.