With cybercrime on the rise, it’s more important than ever to recognise online scams. Scams are one-way fraudsters try to cheat people out of money or personal details.
The recent CrowdStrike/Microso/ IT outage, which disabled millions of Microsoft Windows devices, not only highlighted our heavy reliance on technology but also created opportunities for scammers to exploit the situation, sending phishing emails impersnating CrowdStrike and other providers. This incident serves as a good reminder to regularly update software, as skipping updates, even optional ones, can significantly increase the risk of data breach.
What’s phishing
A phishing email is a fake message designed to look like it’s from a trusted source, such as your bank. Scammers aim to trick you into giving away personal information or clicking on harmful links that infect your computer or device with malicious software.
- Suspicious sender addresses: Check the sender’s email address carefully. Phishing emails often come from addresses that look legitimate but have slight misspellings or extra characters.
- Urgent or threatening language: Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency or fear, urging you to act quickly to avoid negative consequences.
- Poor grammar and spelling: Many phishing emails contain noticeable spelling or grammar errors.
- Bank emails with links: Banks will never send a link or ask for account details in an email. Always log into your accounts by visiting your bank’s official website.
Remember: If in doubt, don’t click a link, review the points above and get a second opinion.
Until next time, stay cyber-safe, and get cracking on your refreshed budget – you might uncover surprising savings & new opportunities that put a spring in your step!
If you’d like to discuss any of the above topics, please reach out. We’re here to help!
Published 11/09/2024