WATCH out for three dangerous “red flags” that a scam email is hiding in your inbox, a cyber-expert has urged.
Speaking to The U.S. Sun, a leading security advisor has warned over malicious emails that could leave your bank empty – and your private info in the hands of crooks.
They can strike at any time in your inbox, and can often be very difficult to spot.
Even users of trusted and secure email apps like Google Gmail or Microsoft Outlook can get caught out by a clever scam email.
We spoke to Erich Kron, security awareness advocate at KnowBe4, to find out how to spot these sinister messages.
There are three that you need to watch out for.
Email scam warning sign #1
“When it comes to red flags related to email scams, the first and most obvious one, but also the most likely to be ignored, is a strong emotional reaction,” Kron warned.
“Scammers use emotions against us to get us to overlook signs that something is not legitimate.
“Manipulating people through fear or even strong emotions of happiness, attackers can rely on emotions to create vulnerabilities.”
Email scam warning sign #2
“Another red flag with email scams, is requesting an action that is very unusual, or that goes against an organization’s policies,” Kron revealed.
“For example, asking a person to transfer large sums of money through a wire transfer or other means, but skipping many of the steps normally required is often a tactic.
“When the request appears to be coming from an executive, people are more likely to skip these steps, leading to disastrous consequences.”
Email scam warning sign #3
“One very obvious red flag, when people remember to look for it, relates to the sender information,” Kron explained.
“While a name is often spoofed, the actual reply to address is quite often going to somewhere else.
“Also, emails sent at unusual times, such as 3:00 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday, can be a red flag worth investigating further.”
