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Protecting Against E-mail Abuse and ScamsHow to Guard E-mail Accounts From Phishing Abuse
Phishing has become more prevalent as vendors and tricksters learn how to manipulate e-mail systems and accounts.
Scams such as requests for bank details, fraudulent messages and identity theft mails are rife among the e-mail community. It is only by remaining vigilant and being aware of methods used to persuade users to impart personal information, that mail accounts can stay safe and well-protected against intruders. The following tips will help to keep e-mail accounts secure against predators and prevent phishing scams from being realised. No Legitimate Site Asks for Personal Information – Don’t Give ItAny e-mail that makes a request for you to divulge personal information is inevitably a fake. Requests for bank details, date of birth, password verification, log on details or name confirmation is likely to be a fraudulent attempt to access an e-mail account or bank details. No matter whom the e-mail appears to be from, is almost certainly a scam. Be Wary of Messages With Embedded LinksIf an e-mail requires a hyperlink to be clicked to redirect the recipient to another site, do not activate the link. Instead of replying to the mail or following any hyperlinks, copy and paste the web URL into your address line. If unsure of the legitimacy of a mail received, visit the company website and obtain contact information to verify the mail. Check Grammar and Company Names CarefullyMasquerading as a bank or legitimate message from an e-mail host or provider such as Hotmail or Yahoo is a common scam. By looking carefully at logos embedded within an e-mail, and checking the name of the company, it is possible to identify fraudulent requests for details. If in any doubt, do not hesitate to contact the company concerned directly to verify legitimacy. Be Vigilant About Checking ContentE-mails that are poorly worded, have typing errors or phrases such as ‘this is not a joke’ are generally scam mails. In addition, a legitimate request for information will never request the recipient to forward messages on to friends or demand a response. Protect PasswordsCreate a strong password for e-mail accounts by using more than seven characters and having a combination of upper and lower case characters, numbers, and special characters, like the @ or # symbols. It is also important to change passwords regularly. Look Out for InconsistenciesMails informing that a password has been changed when it has not, or notifications confirming requests that have not been made can be indications of a breach of e-mail etiquette. It could be a single that someone has broken into an account unlawfully and is aiming to take control of it. Report these issues immediately to the host or provider of the mail service. Help E-mail Service Providers Keep Abreast of New ScamsReport phishing scams to e-mail providers as soon as possible. This enables them to keep abreast of the latest tricks and techniques which are being used to try and elicit information fraudulently.
The copyright of the article Protecting Against E-mail Abuse and Scams in E-Mail is owned by Jen Syrkiewicz. Permission to republish Protecting Against E-mail Abuse and Scams in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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