7 Signs to prevent phishing in your company.

As the Holidays near it is important to be aware of the signs of Phishing emails and fake senders that are trying to steal personal information from you and your clients.

Here are 7 examples to watch out for:

1. The “Urgent Action Required” Email

Red Flags:

Creates a sense of panic (e.g., "Your account will be closed!").

Uses vague language like "unusual activity."

Includes a suspicious link asking for personal information.

Example:

Subject: "Urgent: Account Suspended Due to Unusual Activity"

"Dear Customer,

We've detected unusual activity on your account. For security reasons, your account will be suspended unless you verify your details within 24 hours.

Click here to verify: [Suspicious Link].

Thank you,

Support Team."

🔍 What to Look For:

Poor grammar ("verify your details").

Unfamiliar sender or email address.

Link doesn’t match the company’s website.

2. The Fake Invoice Email

Red Flags:

Claims you owe money for something you don’t recognize.

Attaches a file that could contain a virus or malware.

Example:

Subject: "Invoice #4781 Attached – Due Immediately"

"Hello,

Attached is your invoice for services provided last month. Payment is due today to avoid late fees.

Kind regards,

Accounts Department."

Attachment: “Invoice4781.zip”

🔍 What to Look For:

You don’t know the sender or the service.

Attachment has a weird file extension like .zip or .exe.

Pressure to act immediately.

3. The “Too Good to Be True” Giveaway Email

Red Flags:

Promises something free or unbelievably valuable.

Requires you to click a link or give personal information to “claim” the reward.

Example:

Subject: "Congratulations! You’ve Won a Free iPhone!"

"You’ve been randomly selected to win a brand-new iPhone 14! Claim your prize now by clicking below:

[Claim My Free Gift]

Hurry, this offer expires soon!"

🔍 What to Look For:

Offers that seem unrealistic.

Links that take you to a suspicious website.

You didn’t enter any contest to win a prize.

4. The Fake Delivery Notification Email

Red Flags:

Claims there’s a package waiting, but you didn’t order anything.

Asks you to click a link to "track" or "reschedule" the delivery.

Example:

Subject: "Your Package Is Delayed – Confirm Delivery"

"Dear Customer,

Your package could not be delivered due to incorrect details. To reschedule your delivery, click below:

[Track My Package].

Delivery Service Team."

🔍 What to Look For:

You’re not expecting a package.

Sender email isn’t from a known delivery service like UPS, FedEx, or Amazon.

Link points to an unfamiliar website.

5. The “Password Reset” Email

Red Flags:

Claims your account was hacked or that you need to reset your password.

Includes a fake link to a login page that steals your information.

Example:

Subject: "Reset Your Password Immediately – Security Alert"

"We noticed suspicious login attempts on your account. Please reset your password immediately to secure your account:

[Reset Password Now].

If you did not make this request, please ignore this email."

🔍 What to Look For:

Email doesn’t address you by name (e.g., says "Dear User").

Link takes you to a fake login page.

Sender email address looks slightly “off,” like support@netfl1x.com instead of netflix.com.

6. The “Boss Impersonation” Email

Red Flags:

Looks like it’s from your boss or coworker.

Asks you to send money, buy gift cards, or share sensitive information.

Example:

Subject: "Quick Task – Urgent Request"

"Hi Sarah,

I’m stuck in a meeting and need you to purchase 5 Amazon gift cards for an important client. I’ll reimburse you later. Just send me the codes once you’ve bought them.

Thanks,

[Fake Boss Name]"

🔍 What to Look For:

The email address isn’t your boss’s real address.

Unusual requests (e.g., gift cards or wire transfers).

Pressure to act fast without asking questions.

7. The Fake Tech Support Email

Red Flags:

Claims your computer has a problem or virus.

Tells you to call a fake support number or download something harmful.

Example:

Subject: "Immediate Action Needed: Virus Detected on Your Device"

"Dear User,

Our systems have detected malware on your computer. To resolve this issue, call our support line immediately at 1-800-FAKE-HELP or download our security tool here:

[Download Fix].

Failure to act may result in permanent data loss."

🔍 What to Look For:

You didn’t ask for tech support.

Pressure to call a number or download a file.

Generic greetings ("Dear User").

How to Stay Safe:

Stop and Think: Don’t click on anything right away.

Check the Sender: Look closely at the sender’s email address.

Hover Over Links: Place your mouse over a link (don’t click!) to see where it really goes.

Verify: Contact the company or person directly using a known phone number or website.

Don’t Share Personal Info: Never send passwords, credit card numbers, or sensitive data via email.