One of the critical things you can do is check who it is from. Check the email address. Most mail programs show the email address in two segments: one is the name, and the other is the actual email address of the account used.
For instance, the name used here is AMZ-Membership® in a bid to convince me that it is from Amazon.
But the actual email is from [email protected], and the address is clearly not from Amazon.
Be warned that some scam emails even manage to spoof the actual email address, so if they pass this simple check, still be suspicious.
How to get the headers
Sometimes, the person supporting your IT will need an “Email Header” to see if the email is legitimate. If you use Outlook or a dedicated email software, the best way to do this is to click the email and drag it to your desktop.
This will create a .eml file, and then you can attach that as an attachment and email it to your IT company.
If you are using a webmail portal you can right click the email and click view source.
You should get a screen with a lot of information.
Right click the screen and go select all.
Once all text is highlighted
Right click and go copy.
Then go to new email and paste the information in this information including the email headers, which can be used to block and even report the scammer in the future.
If you think you may be in the process of being scammed
Stop for a moment. Is there a false sense of urgency?
Does it feel right?
If it does not feel right, then it may not be right if unsure check with a friend as two heads are better than one and sometimes someone can see something you don’t.
If it involves your bank account, check with your bank and ALWAYS use the number on the bank’s official website.
