Email Scams Your Business Should be Aware Of
What are some common email scams all businesses should be aware of?
Although email scams haven’t exactly become a daily part of our lives, they crop up with enough regularity that protecting yourself from those trying to rip you off has become an important issue. Although consumer email scams get a lot of attention, we’re going to go a different route by discussing a few popular business email scams and what you can do if such a nefarious action happens within your company.
Common Business Email Scams
Most email scams are variations on a common theme. You’ll receive a phishing email attempting to gain access to your computer, which can be used to wreak havoc and/or give the sender access to sensitive information.
Here are three of the most popular business email scams that have recently been making the rounds:
- Copyrighted Image Scam — With this scam, you’ll receive an email advising you that your company’s website is using the sender’s copyrighted images. When you click the link they include, which they claim contains proof of their ownership, this will install a virus on your computer.
- Domain Expiration Scam — This common email scam claims that your company’s domain name is about to expire. It provides you with a link where you’ll be asked to provide credit card information to continue the domain registration. We’re betting you can guess what happens next.
- Project Management Scam — In one of the latest email scams, you’ll receive an alert from the project management software company that your business may be using. These often look legit and once you open the email to respond, this will either grant access to your computer or install malware onto it.
Avoiding Business Email Scams
The “beauty” of a phishing email is that they’re often difficult to distinguish from legitimate correspondence. In order to prevent an outside entity from gaining access to your computer system or causing problems with it, you must be diligent at all times.
Here are a few ways to avoid business email scams:
- Be Wary of Subject Lines — If the subject line contains any of what we discussed above, then you should definitely be wary of them. Also, subject lines of email scams often convey a great deal of urgency to entice the recipient to perform some type of action right away.
- Watch the Language — Although some scams are well-written, most of them are not. They’re sent from foreign countries by those who use broken English and incorrect grammar that is typically very easy to spot. This is often the most obvious clue.
- Move It Up the Ladder — If you’re ever unsure if an email is legit, notify a superior before opening it. If you’re an owner or manager, consult your IT department or a related professional who can help you determine its legitimacy.
- Educate Your Employees — As they say, knowledge is power. Be sure to routinely educate your employees on both old and new email scams. Tell them what to look for and the steps that should be taken if they believe they’ve received a fraudulent email.
- Upgrade Virus Protection — As any IT professional will tell you, virus protection is an absolute must in today’s electronic world. Virus protection software will quarantine any viruses that you receive. Just make sure that you keep the software updated with the latest version.
Contact P3 Agency for a Free Marketing Assessment
The P3 agency has proven itself as a trusted name in marketing services, web design services, social media marketing, and other techniques to take your company to the next level. For more information about email scams or to learn why we’re the most reputable marketing agency in Clearwater and Tampa Bay, give us a call at (800) 515-9422 today to schedule a free marketing assessment.