5 simple steps to help you recognise fraudulent emails

I have seen the number of spam and phishing emails rise in not only my personal mail but also my work emails. Covid-19 has proved the perfect opportunity for more cyber criminals to try and get access to our data. This rise in numbers has been reflected in conversations I have had with clients and even in my weekly family catch up video call. Have you noticed it too?

A few years ago I tried to come up with a simple way to help people remember how to recognise spam/phising emails and used the phrase 'Got Spam, think S.M.A.R.T' but 2021 calls for a more simple approach so I have re-vamped my advice for this year.

Firstly it is important to know what spam and phishing emails are.

What are spam emails and phishing attempts?

Spam emails are any unsolicited messages you receive and are often sent out in bulk. It can also be known as junk. Phishing emails are fraudulent attempts to obtain information or data, such as login information and credit card details by impersonating someone you trust. Phishing emails can lead to a cyber attack which can be very costly for you or the business you work for.

Ideally spam email and phishing emails end up in your spam/junk folder. However even with robust spam filtering or anti-phishing policies in place the odd suspect email can make it into your inbox. That means that you are the best line of defence when it comes to recognising fraudulent emails and acting accordingly. Your company might have an IT Security policy which asks you to flag them as spam, delete them or send them on to your IT department. If you run a company and don't have a policy in place then is a good idea to have some guidance available for employees so they know the best way to manage spam emails.

5 simple steps to help you recognise fraudulent email

Take a look at my blog post on g5tech.com by clicking the link below.

I hope these 5 simple steps will help you be better able to recognise and outsmart any suspect emails which make it to your inbox. If in doubt always contact your IT Department.

#g5tech #thinkSMART #cybersecurity #fraudulentemails #fraudmails #ittips