Email scams, commonly referred to as phishing scams, are a frequent form of internet fraud that can cause losses in money as well as other harm.
In this article, we'll look at an example of an email scam and go over several red flags to look out for. In addition, we'll offer tips on how to avoid scammers, as well as information on how to report frauds and best practices for email security.
Below is an example of an email scam I received:
|
From: James Richard
<edwar@gmail.com> via wwjwm.onmicrosoft.com reply-to:
ups-expressservice0@outlook.com to: <REDACTED> date: Apr 11, 2023, 3:56 AM subject: YOUR ATM CARD DELIVERY
NOTIFICATION Attention: Dear Beneficiary, This is to bring to your notice that
because of the impossibility of your fund transfer through the western union
network, we have credited your total of Us$3.5Million valid fund into an ATM
MASTER CARD and I have paid the Processing fee and the delivery of the ATM
Card for you, I paid it because the ATM Card worth of US$3,500,000.00 has
already been deposited to the UPS Delivery Company. Therefore, you will have
to contact them asap for the delivery. We decided to help you pay off the
money so that the ATM Card will not expire or be called back into the Federal
Government treasury account because, I trust that when you receive your ATM
Card definitely you must pay me back my money and even compensate me for
helping you. Now I want you to contact UPS Express at:
{ups-expressservice0@outlook.com} with your physical address where you desire
the delivery to be made so that they can deliver your ATM Card to your
designated address without any delay. Like I stated earlier, the
crediting, delivery and the company registration charges has been paid by me,
but I did not pay their security keeping fees since they refused reason, is
that they do not know when you are going to contact them and the demurrage
might have increased by then, They told me that their security keeping fees
is $100 only. Below is the Contact Information of
the UPS Express Customer Service: Director Thomas William
Email:{ups-expressservice0@outlook.com} Contact them today and also send
them the security official keeping charge to avoid an increase of their fees
and let me know once you receive your ATM card. Important Notice: Your ATM
CARD package was registered as a gift so that the diplomatic Agent will not
know the content of your package okay. Regards. James Richard |
Red Flags
Let's look at the last email and break
down the different red flags we found in it. This will help you identify
scams that are similar to this one:
|
Red Flag |
Explanation |
Text |
|
Generic greeting |
Many scams are send to multiple
users. Sometimes the scammer only has your email but not your name. |
“Attention: Dear Beneficiary" |
|
Impossibility of fund transfer
through a bank |
This is a common trope used in
scams, as it creates a sense of urgency and desperation. |
"because of the impossibility
of your fund transfer through the western union network" |
|
Sudden and unexpected windfall |
Receiving a large sum of money
without any clear explanation is another common tactic used in scams. |
"we have credited your total of
Us$3.5Million valid fund into an ATM MASTER CARD" |
|
Request to contact an email address
that is different from the sender's email address |
This indicates that the email is
likely fraudulent, as the sender is attempting to hide their identity. |
"contact UPS Express at: {ups-expressservice0@outlook.com}" |
|
Promise of compensation for
assistance |
This is a common ploy used in scams,
as it appeals to the recipient's greed and desire for easy money. |
"when you receive your ATM Card
definitely you must pay me back my money and even compensate me for helping
you" |
|
Urgency and pressure to act quickly |
The email emphasizes the need to act
quickly, which is a common tactic used in scams to create a sense of urgency
and pressure the recipient into making a hasty decision. |
"contact them asap for the
delivery" |
|
Request for payment of fees |
The email requests that the
recipient pay a security fee to avoid an increase in fees. This is a common
tactic used in scams to extract money from the recipient. |
"send them the security
official keeping charge to avoid an increase of their fees" |
|
Poor grammar and spelling errors |
The email has multiple grammar and
spelling errors, which is a red flag that it may be fraudulent. |
Various errors throughout the email,
such as "I paid it because the ATM Card worth of US$3,500,000.00 has
already been deposited to the UPS Delivery Company." |
|
Unusual email domains for an institution |
The email is sent from an unusual
email domain, which is another red flag that it may be fraudulent. |
"ups-expressservice0@outlook.com", “edwar@gmail.com” |
Recommendations
Follow these best practices to avoid
getting taken in by email scams like this one:
- Beware of emails or texts you didn't ask for. Be
careful if you get a message from someone you don't know or who you didn't
expect to hear from.
- Look for red flags. As we've pointed out in the
table, there are some warning signs to look out for, like requests for
payment or email addresses that don't seem right. If an email seems too
good to be true or makes you wonder about something, look into it more.
- Check knowledge on your own. If you get a message
asking for personal or financial information, make sure to check it out on
your own before replying. This can be done by finding out who sent the
email, calling the company directly, or doing some research online.
- Update your software regularly. Scammers often
take advantage of weaknesses in software and operating systems, so make
sure your devices always have the latest security patches and updates.
- Report anything that seems odd. If you think
you've been scammed or got a fake message, you should tell the authorities
or a consumer protection agency about it. By doing this, you can help keep
other people from getting ripped off, too.
How scammers get your email address
This is one question that I get a lot,
and the answer is not difficult.
Scammers can gain email addresses
through variety of means, including "harvesting" them from websites,
"buying" email lists, "guessing" email addresses,
"hacking," and "data breaches."
Good email security practices, such as
not sharing your email address online, using a password that is both strong and
unique, enabling two-factor authentication, exercising caution with email
subscriptions, and reporting spam and phishing emails, are essential to your
protection against these strategies.
Scammers targets
It is essential to keep in mind that
different people have various degrees of susceptibility to different types of
scams. For instance, those who are elderly, people who have cognitive
disabilities, and people who are having financial troubles may be more
susceptible to scams. Swindlers often prey on members of these vulnerable
groups because they may be more trusting, more isolated, or more in need of
financial support than other people.
If you are aware of someone who may be
susceptible to being taken advantage of by an scammer, it is imperative that
you have a conversation with them about the potential dangers involved and
assist them in taking measures to protect themselves. This may involve watching
their email and financial accounts, assisting them in identifying any red
signals, as well as providing them with tools and support.
Where to report scams
You can file a complaint with the proper authorities or consumer protection organization of your country, if you suspect that you have been the victim of a scam or have received a message that contains fraudulent information. Among the available choices are:
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://www.ftc.gov/
- Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG): https://apwg.org/
- Scamwatch: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/
- Virus Total: https://www.virustotal.com/
- FraudWatch International: https://fraudwatchinternational.com/
- Centro Nacional de Ciberseguridad: https://cncs.gob.do/reportar-incidentes/
You can lower your chances of becoming a victim of a scam by paying attention to these pieces of advice and acting cautiously.
Keep in mind that staying aware and vigilant is essential, as scammers are constantly developing new methods and strategies to target people who are trusting of their own good judgment.