Scam Emails Explained: How to Protect Yourself from Phishing and Fraud
A scam email is a malicious email that aims to trick recipients into giving up their sensitive information, such as bank accounts and passwords. This is one of the ways scammers have used to steal money from individuals easily. Learn how to spot scam emails, the most common types, how to avoid becoming a victim and what to do if you’ve been scammed.
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How to Spot a Scam Email
Here are some ways to recognise a malicious email:
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It came from an infrequent sender.
It has an urgent call to action or an alarming tone.
It has unexpected attachments and suspicious links.
There are multiple spelling errors and bad grammar used in the message.
The email address or domain name are misspelt or altered.
Email greeting is not personalised or uses a generic format like “Dear madam or sir”.
The Most Common Types of Scam Emails
Sextortion or doxing
Business email imposters
Fake contest or raffle prizes
Account update and password reset requests
Fake charity membership from famous personalities
Too good to be true subscription promos and renewal discounts
What Happens When You Respond to a Scam Email
Clicking on a suspicious link may open a phishing website that pretends to be a legitimate online shop or bank to collect your login credentials and other information. On the other hand, downloading an attachment can install malware on your device. Malware like ransomware can encrypt your files and hold them for ransom. Some can install malicious software that records device activities to get your data. Once scammers have your information, they can use it to steal money directly from your bank accounts and credit cards. Or worse, take over your email and other connected accounts and cause more damage.
How to Avoid Becoming a Scam Victim
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Educating yourself about the ins and outs of scam emails is still the most effective way for you to avoid being targeted by these attacks. Until then, follow these recommendations:
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Practice good email hygiene.
Never disclose sensitive or confidential information through email. If in doubt, verify with the person or company first to avoid possible issues.
Think before you click. Avoid opening links and attachments from unknown senders.
Create a strong and unique email account password. Use Trend Micro Password Generator to help you generate better passwords for your accounts.
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TIP: Change your passwords regularly. Trend Micro recommends you update them at least every three months if you are not using a password manager.
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Look at the email address, not just the sender.
Check if the message is sent from a public email domain. Legitimate organisations use a single domain for email addresses. They will not send emails from an address that ends in @gmail.com. If the domain name (what comes after the @ symbol) matches the sender of the email, the message is most likely legitimate.
A message that comes from a different domain is suspicious.
Enhance your device security and privacy.
Turn on the Firewall for your Windows PC.
Update your operating system and web browsers regularly.
Watch out for suspicious links.
You should not click links or download files even if they come from strange sources.
Check for mismatched URLs. Hovering above the link may show a different web address.
Avoid clicking links in emails unless you are sure it is a safe link.
Look for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
Companies will often hire proofreaders and editors to ensure content they send out are free from errors.
Do not be frightened by messages that have an alarming tone.
Doublecheck with the company if you are uncertain about the status of your accounts.
Many of these scam email requests you to act quickly or else it will be too late.
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Look out for generic greetings like “Dear Customer”
Scam emails are designed to be sent to a large amount of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible.
Check whether the message contains a generic subject and a greeting. This is a sign of a phishing attempt.
Take note of unusual information in the message.
Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not commonly used can often be a sign of a scam or phishing attempt.
Watch out for unsolicited messages.
Organisations do not practice sending confirmation emails unless there have important reasons.
Most of them avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it is for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.
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Why Do I See Scam Emails?
Wondering why you receive these emails? Cybercriminals may have obtained your email address from a data leak, fake website, public sources like social media, or even illegally purchase your data.
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What To Do After Realising You’ve Been Scammed
Change the password of your email and other online accounts.
Contact your financial institutions including your bank and see how they can help you further.
Report the scam to prevent more victims.
New Zealand: NetSafe
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🎉 Riddle me this, legends! 🎉
He/She who makes it, sells it.
He/She who buys it, doesn't use it.
The user doesn't know they are using it.
What is it?
(Shezz from Ngāruawāhia kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Shezz!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
The Bible Declares That God is Bringing Jews Back To Their Ancient Land of Israel
The Bible reveals that God has chosen and cherished one specific people and one specific land to serve as the stage for revealing His plan and purpose to all nations. As we read in Deuteronomy chapter 7, verse six, speaking of the Jews: “The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
God’s ultimate purpose is to transform the world by establishing His Divine Rule in His new Kingdom based in Jerusalem. This will occur when Jesus Christ returns as King during a time of great trouble. At that moment, God will intervene to save first the Jewish people from destruction and gather them from all parts of the earth. Upon Christ’s return, God will put out a Call to be universally honoured, and a lasting peace will finally be established throughout the World. This has been his design from Creation which was told to the Fathers of Isreal first and then to the rest of the World by the teaching of Jesus and then his disciples in the New Testament.
**Exile and the Promise of Return**
Today, the Jewish people have often been cursed and despised among the nations. However, the prophets foretold that when Jesus returns, God will settle them in the land of Israel in security and safety. The historical rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah resulted in their greatest exile from the land, a dispersion that has lasted for approximately two thousand years.
Yet, in direct fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies, God is now regathering the Jews to their ancestral homeland. As the prophet Isaiah declares, “For the Lord will have mercy upon Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land” (Isaiah 14:1). While Israel was scattered by God due to their failure to live obediently as His chosen nation, God promised He would never utterly forsake them. The prophet Ezekiel confirms this, stating,
“Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land” (Ezekiel 37:21).
**Fulfilment: The Modern State of Israel**
The promise of God to bring His people back to the land is proven and demonstrated by the establishment of the modern State of Israel in 1948. The Word of God declared,
“I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord, and I will cause them to return to the land” (Jeremiah 30:3).
Since 1948, we have witnessed Jews returning from all over the world to occupy the ancient land that was promised to the fathers of the nation: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This movement fulfils the words of Ezekiel:
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land” (Ezekiel 36:24).
The undeniable return of the Jews to the land of Israel demonstrates that God is sovereignly guiding their destiny. Because we see these specific prophecies fulfilled, we can be assured that those prophecies yet to be fulfilled will also come to pass.
**God’s Unseen Hand in the Regathering**
The regathering of the Jews to the land of Israel is fundamentally the work of Almighty God in our time. It is not simply a political movement driven by the desire of the Jewish people to establish a nation and homeland. Rather, God’s unseen hand is behind the events that have led to the revival of the nation of Israel.
The Bible emphasises God’s personal involvement in this return through numerous passages:
- “Behold, I will save my people... and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem” (Zechariah 8:7-8).
- “I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return” (Jeremiah 30:10).
- “I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities” (Amos 9:14).
- “I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel” (Micah 2:12).
**Conclusion: A Sign of Christ’s Return**
God is regathering Israel today. The very existence of the modern State of Israel is a clear and powerful sign that Almighty God is working amongst the nations. The Bible states that He “shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12). This prophetic work is underway.
Israel sees their return as prophetical, but few understand that God will create events where first they will eventually be humbled by her neighbours before Christ returns as their Saviour. Read Ezekiel 38 & 39 to gain an incite as to what God's destiny fot Israel is.
We have seen for the last 125 years, the call for their return to their Homeland and its subsequent founding. This is God's reassurance to the World that He'll bring the World under His Blessing. Because of this, we can be confident that Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God, a time of peace and plenty for every nation.
Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?
What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?
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37.1% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
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62.9% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
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