Top tips to avoid phishing scams

Phishing emails attempt to gain personal information such as bank account details or personal login information.They are designed to look like a genuine email sent by a well-known business like your bank, a delivery service or social networking site. The company logo and layout may be very convincing.

Characteristics

1. Asks for personal information
   Most companies never ask their customers to submit confidential data through email.
2. Urgent or threatening
   Lots of phishing emails demand immediate action and threaten account closure if the demand is not met. Legitimate companies would not take this approach.
3. Generic salutation
   Phishing emails often start with ‘Dear Customer’ instead of your name.
4. Attachments
   Malicious software is often disguised as an innocent attachment. Do not open unexpected attachments from suspicious or unknown senders.
5. Fake links
   Links to a website included in a phishing email may show a legitimate address but then take you somewhere different. You can see the actual address by hovering your mouse over the link but do not click.
6. Bad spelling or grammar
   Email scammers are often sent from abroad and may contain poor English or unusual phrases.

What can you do?

 Do not click on a link in an email that asks for personal information.

 Do not open attachments from unexpected senders.

 If an email seems suspicious, phone the company to verify or log onto your account from their website in your normal manner

Phishing email example:

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