How to Spot a Fake Email
Commonly Known As Phishing

Phishing, Scam, Fake Emails

Phishing attacks have become a prevalent threat. These fraudulent attempts to gain sensitive information by disguising as a trustworthy entity can lead to significant personal and financial harm. Understanding how to identify phishing emails, fake messages, fraudulent communications, and spoofing attempts is crucial to safeguarding your data and maintaining security. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the various types of phishing emails, and provide tips on how to spot and avoid these malicious threats.

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It is estimated that more than 100 billion emails are sent every day
And If it feels like you receive impostor emails faster than you can hit delete, you are not alone. Hackers and Scammers love to send fake emails. Mixing them right in with authentic emails, and your wondering if you can afford to ignore them. Or at least, you think those emails actually came from your friends and family, on-line stores or your bank. How can you know they are legitimate and not actually an email scam or what we call a "Phishing Scam"

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a large scale attack where a hacker will forge emails, so it looks like it came from a legitimate company (e.g. your Bank or PayPal). With the intention of tricking the unsuspecting recipient into downloading malware or entering confidential information into a phishing website

(A website pretending to be legitimate which actually is a fake website used to Scam people into giving up their information)

Phishing attacks can be sent to numerous email recipients in the hope that even a few responses will lead to a successful attack

Types of Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are deceptive messages crafted to steal personal information or install malware by masquerading as legitimate communications. Recognizing these threats involves scrutinizing email addresses, checking for spelling errors or unusual requests, and verifying through alternate channels when something seems off. Awareness and cautious behavior are crucial defenses against these sophisticated schemes.
There are several key types which we listed below.

Spear Phishing

Spear Phishing targets specific individuals or organizations. Unlike generic phishing attempts, spear phishing is highly personalized. The attackers gather information about their target, such as their name, job title, and personal interests, to craft a convincing email that appears to come from a trusted source. For an example you may receive an email that looks like it is from your IT Department saying you need to re-enter your passwords on a specific site, or maybe one from the HR department with a “new benefits package” attached

Whale Phishing

Whale Phishing, or “whaling,” is a more targeted form of spear phishing that focuses on high-profile individuals, such as executives or high-ranking officials within an organization. The goal is often to gain access to sensitive information or execute high-value scams.

Clone Phishing

Clone Phishing involves creating a replica of a legitimate email that the recipient has previously received. The cloned email has a malicious twist, such as a link to a fraudulent website or an attachment containing malware. The email is almost identical to a legitimate one but with malicious modifications. It might contain a link or attachment that appears to be from a trusted source but leads to harmful sites or malware.

Angler Phishing

Angler Phishing takes advantage of social media platforms to target users. The attackers use fake social media profiles or posts to lure victims into providing personal information or clicking on malicious links. The phishing attempts are carried out through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Often involves fake profiles, promotional offers, or fake customer support accounts.

Email Spoofing

Email Spoofing involves falsifying the sender’s email address to make it appear as though the message is coming from a legitimate source. The goal is to deceive the recipient into believing the email is from a trusted entity. The email address may look similar to a legitimate one but with slight variations. Often includes requests for sensitive information or actions that compromise security.

Business Email Compromise

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated attack where the attacker compromises a business email account and uses it to conduct fraudulent activities. These attacks often target financial transactions and sensitive business communications. The attacker sometimes gains access to a legitimate business email account. They use the compromised account to request wire transfers or sensitive information.

Why Is Phishing Such a Threat?

Phishing poses a threat because it can be very difficult to identify these types of emails. Studies have found as many as 94% of employees can not tell the difference between real and phishing emails. Because of this, as many as 16% of people click on the attachments in these emails, which can contain malware. Just in case you think this might not be that big of a problem

• A Data Breach Investigations Report’s Phishing Statistics, 30% of phishing messages are opened by targeted users, and 12% of those users click on the malicious attachment or link

• A recent study from Intel found that a whopping 95% of attacks on enterprise networks are the result of successful spear phishing

• According to the Webroot Threat Report, nearly 1.5 million new phishing sites are created each month

• Clearly spear phishing or scam emails should not be taken lightly

• It is difficult for most people to tell the difference between real and fake emails. While most of the time, the obvious clues are misspellings and or .exe file attachments.

• Other emails have hidden EXE attachments. One such popular example is having a "Word" file attachment which executes a macro once opened is impossible to spot but just as fatal

Even Experts Can Be Tricked

In a study by Kapost, it was found that 96% of CEO and Executives worldwide failed to tell the difference between a real and a phishing email 100% of the time. Even security conscious people can still be at risk. And the risk is higher if there is not any knowledge on this subject

How Easy it is To Create a Fake Email

Simple by downloading an SMTP tool I can create a fake email address I can start sending fake emails from almost any email program. This is just how easy it is for a hacker to create an email address and send you a fake email where they can steal personal information from you. The truth is that any business name, or even you can be impersonated anyone and anyone can impersonate you without too much difficulty

How to Spot Fake Emails

A few guidelines that can help you spot the real from the fake email

Impersonal, Generic Greetings
A few examples are “Dear user” or “Dear [your email address]”
Emails such as from PayPal will always address you by your first and last names or by your business name
They never use greetings like "Dear user" or "Hello PayPal member"

Links To Fake Website

If there's a link in an email, always check it before you click. A link could look perfectly safe like
https://rshweb.com/blogs-articles
But if you hover your mouse over the link to see the actual destination:
http://spoffingyou.com/we-just-got-you
If you are not certain, do not click on the link. Just visiting a bad website can and will infect your machine

Emails With Unknown Attachments

Do not EVER open an email attachment unless you are sure of who it came from, or you know it is legitimate and safe. Be particularly careful of "Invoices" from businesses you are not familiar with. Some attachments contain viruses that install themselves when opened

Common Examples of Spoofed Email Headers

Spoofed email headers can be used to deceive recipients by making the email appear to come from a trusted or familiar source.
Many phishing emails only need just one click to give the Hacker access to your computer system
Here are some common examples:

"Your Account Has Been Locked"
"Suspended Account"
"Your account is about to be suspended"
"You've been paid"
"You have been paid too much"
"Update Your Official Record"
"Click to Learn More"
"Restart Your Membership"
"You Missed a Delivery"
"Confirm Your Account"
"Tax Refund"
"Refund Due to System Error"
"Click to See Your Revised Salary"
"From" Recipient's Bank
"From" Recipient's CFO
"From" Recipient's CEO

Identify Phishing or Spoofed Emails

Identifying phishing or fake emails is crucial to maintaining your online security. Here are a few tips to help you spot them:

• • Check the Sender’s Email Address: Phishing emails often come from addresses that look similar to legitimate ones but have subtle differences. For example, an email from “support@yourbank.com” might come from “support@yourb4nk.com” or “support@yourbank-secure.com”.
• • Look for Spelling and Grammar Errors: Many phishing emails contain spelling mistakes or awkward phrasing. Legitimate organizations typically have high standards for their communications.
• • Examine the Greeting: Be wary of generic greetings like “Dear Customer” or “Dear User.” Legitimate companies usually address you by name.
• • Check for Unusual Requests: Phishing emails often ask for sensitive information, such as passwords, Social Security numbers, or credit card details. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for such information.
• • Hover Over Links: Before clicking any link, hover over it to see the actual URL. Phishing emails might have links that appear to be legitimate but lead to malicious sites.
• • Be Cautious with Attachments: Unexpected attachments or those from unknown sources can be harmful. Verify the source before opening any attachment.
• • Verify the Contact Information: If the email asks you to call a number or visit a website, verify the contact information through the official website of the organization or through other trusted channels.
• • Look for Security Warnings: Modern email clients often have built-in tools that flag potential phishing attempts. Pay attention to warnings or alerts.
• • Check for Unusual Urgency or Threats: Phishing emails often create a sense of urgency or threaten dire consequences if you don’t act quickly. Legitimate companies typically won’t use such tactics.
• • Examine the Email’s Header: For a deeper dive, you can examine the email header to see the routing information and confirm if it comes from a trusted source. This requires a bit more technical know-how but can be very revealing.
• • Use Multi-Factor Authentication: While not a direct identification method, having multi-factor authentication enabled adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for phishers to gain access even if they do get your credentials.
• • Report Suspicious Emails: If you suspect an email is phishing, report it to your email provider or the company being impersonated. This helps improve security measures and prevents others from falling victim.

Digital Certificates

A Digital Certificate is similar to a virtual passport. It tells them that you are who you say you are. Digital Certificates are issued by Certificate Authorities (CAs). In the same way a government would check your identity before issuing a passport, a CA will have a process called vetting which determines you are the person you say you are. There are multiple levels of vetting. At the simplest form, we check that the email is owned by the applicant. On the second level, we check identity (like passports etc.) to ensure they are the person they say they are. Higher vetting levels involve also verifying the individual’s company and physical location

Summary

Phishing, spoofing, and fraudulent emails are pervasive threats in the digital landscape. By understanding the various types of phishing attacks and implementing best practices for identifying and handling suspicious emails, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to these scams. Stay vigilant, educate yourself, and maintain robust security measures to protect your personal and professional information from cyber threats.

Author Bio: Betsy Trauger

A freelance web developer with a wealth of experience in utilizing RSH Web Services for her projects. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for utilizing third-party software seamlessly, Betsy's work is characterized by...

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