Guard Your Inbox: Mastering Safe Email Practices

1. It’s Not That Urgent. Scammers use urgency to get you to open an email and act before you stop to think about whether the request is reasonable. They may ask you to sign into an account to avoid having it deleted, but what they are really after is your password. If you are unsure if a message is legitimate, contact the sender directly using an alternative and trusted method.
2. Be Leary of Links. Hover over links without clicking to see where they really direct you. If the real link seems unsafe or different from what you expect, DO NOT click it. Links can easily be disguised as legitimate, when the true destination is malicious. As a best practice, when you are asked to “Click Here,” navigate to the intended URL directly through your browser instead of clicking the link.
3. Know Who You’re Talking To. Scammers often attempt to closely imitate trusted email senders. Before opening a message, ask yourself:

• Do I know this sender?
• Does the "from" line look legitimate? Make sure you look closely for spelling errors, extra punctuation, etc. in the email domain (for example, @midrivers.com versus @midr!vers.com or @midrvers.com).
• Am I expecting this email?
• Is the subject threatening or overly urgent?

Even if an email is from an address you know, if the message seems out of character don’t act or click any links. Verify that the message is truly from the indicated sender by calling or reaching out to the person or business through other trusted means. Just like scammers can spoof phone numbers, spoofing email addresses is a common practice.

4. When Attachments Aren’t Attachments. Be cautious when opening email attachments and NEVER open an attachment in an email you are not expecting. Scanning attachments with antivirus software before opening them can help protect your privacy, finances and personal information. Cybercriminals will also use images that look like file attachments but redirect users to phishing websites or malware. They will also pressure you to act or respond quickly to avoid account closures, penalties, or legal action.

Stay vigilant and help Secure Your World by using these safe email practices EVERY TIME you log in!