5 Ways We Keep Your Money Safe
How to defend yourself against business email scams
Who’s the boss? How to defend yourself against business email scams
We’ve all been there: that flash on your phone or work computer of a name and number you don’t recognize trying to convince you to click here, give this info about yourself, send money here, and blah blah blah. Scammers are targeting work inboxes more and more these days, posing as your employer or other businesses, working their hardest to trick you into revealing sensitive info or scaring you into transferring funds. Here are a few tips to keep yourself safe from these email scams:
Scrutinize the sender
Pay close attention to the sender's email address or their short code number (the number they text you from). Scammers will often create addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones, just with subtle differences or slight errors. When you can, try to verify the sender's identity by contacting the business or person directly, or checking on the business’ verified website for information on how they’ll contact you.
Hover before you click
Avoid clicking or tapping on links, downloading attachments, or replying to an email or text without careful consideration. If you’re on a computer, hover your mouse over any hyperlinks to reveal their actual destinations. If the URL looks suspicious or unfamiliar, don’t click! When in doubt, visit the business’ website by typing its address into your browser or doing an internet search for it. If the addresses or any of the contact info listed on their site don’t match, you’ve got yourself a scammer.
Exercise caution with requests
Be wary of any emails or texts that request your sensitive information or urge you to make any urgent financial transactions. Legitimate businesses, like GO2bank, will never ask for passwords, credit card details, or money transfers via email or text. Always double-check these types of requests through a separate channel, like on their website or calling customer support, before taking any action or clicking on anything that may be deceptive.
Stay updated and educated
Like they say, the best defense is a good offense. Before something fishy comes your way and has you doubting whether it’s real or not, try to keep yourself informed about the latest work email scams out there and whether they’re happening by email, text, or over the phone. Knowledge is always the best way to keep yourself free from evolving work-email scams. So get back to work and send those scammers packing!
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