Spot the Fraud: Tips to Avoid Phishing Attacks

Over three billion fake emails are sent by cyber-criminals each day, and even more text messages on top of that. Also known as a phishing attack, the sender pretends to be someone else to trick recipients into clicking malicious links, providing personal information, or opening infectious software. Our experts have put together these tips to help you spot the fraud in emails and texts.

 

#1 – Double-check the sender.
Even before you open the message, notice who sent it. Do you recognize the sender? In an email, even if it’s a known contact, hover over the sender’s information to confirm it is who you expected. If the sender is not someone you recognize or were expecting to hear from, proceed with caution.

 

#2 – Look for language and grammatical errors.
Read carefully through the message. Ask yourself, does the flow seem unusual? Are there any obvious grammatical errors, misspellings, or incomplete sentences? Incorrect spelling and punctuation are hallmark signs of a phishing attack.

 

#3 – Hover over all links.
Always hover over any link included in an email. The hover will show you where the link will actually take you. If it doesn’t match a trusted website, do not click on the link. In text messages where hovering is not an option, only click on links you are expecting or are from a trusted source.

 

#4 – Think twice before opening attachments.
Always take a moment to think before opening any attachments. If the message is not from a known or trusted sender, consider not opening the file. Only open attachments you are expecting or are from a known and trusted sender.

 

For more tips on what to watch for, what you can do, and more references, visit bhfcu.com/fraud.