Cyber criminals are constantly creating new ways to target consumers and steal their personal information.
The latest threat facing people in Ireland is affecting people with Gmail and Outlook email accounts according to cyber experts.
Phishing scams, which involve online crooks sending emails or messages pretending to be part of reputable companies to steal information like your credit card number, are becoming a particular concern.
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To help tackle this ongoing threat, cybersecurity expert Chris Bluvshtein from VPNOverview.com has revealed the most common tactics these fraudsters use to steal your data.
These latest batches of emails try to convince PC users to take quick action on something which can lead to them being opened without thinking.
Enticing subject lines, such as deliveries that haven't arrived or prizes that have been won, are also added to lure unsuspecting users in.
It's a worrying time to own an email account and if you’re unsure about what might be a scam, here are some of the most recognisable ones.
If you see them in your email inbox… be wary of them.
“Your delivery was unsuccessful”
According to Bluvshtein, one of the biggest phishing scams plays on the idea that you have missed a delivery. After “alerting” you of this supposed missed delivery, they will likely ask you asked for payment information to cover missed delivery fees.
“You’ve won a prize!”
These scams are surprisingly common, with the cybercriminal often sending you a link that says you have won something. Taking the bait will likely lead to you being asked for information. In a worst-case scenario, Mr Bluvshtein warned that it could open your device up to the risk of a computer virus.
“You contacted us first”
This is another new tactic used by hackers as they try to convince email users they've made the first contact.
“Another popular method used by phishing scammers is the ‘you contacted us first’ approach," explained Bluvshtein.
"Nobody likes to think they have accidentally forgotten about a message, so you might be inclined to click on the link to see what is going on.”
If you get a message like this and you don't recognise the sender it's best to delete it than take a risk.
“Your subscription is expiring”
Once again stressing a sense of urgency, these phishing emails try to trick you into thinking that your antivirus software - McAfee for example – needs renewing. It's another classic way of luring you into clicking links and handing over credit card detail.
“You could be a millionaire”
These emails are a spiritual successor the the “get rich quick” schemes that used to flood thousands of inboxes.
As they have become more common and quite easy to spot, scammers have evolved this type of email, offering users a way to make money fast using cryptocurrency.
Mr. Bluvshtein warned: “There is now an uptick in cryptocurrency-related scams that encourage you to make a long-term investment into something like Bitcoin. Unfortunately, the new angle puts you at just as much risk.”
If you see emails like these, try to verify if this is actually sent by the company the sender is claiming to represent. If you suspect that it is a scam, the best thing to do is to avoid clicking the link and hitting the report button on your Gmail account.
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