2022 has ushered in a new wave of internet scams, email cons and suspicious messaging attempts. While many of these are easily spotted by experienced internet-users, those with less awareness when it comes to checking their inbox may fall victim to nefarious phishing attempts, with many of these communications appearing deceptively realistic despite the very real spam risk that they pose.
From false interactions with seemingly legitimate healthcare providers, hoaxes surrounding personal details which have been obtained by criminals, and the promise of affordable vacations or luxurious city-breaks, here are some of the most common email scams which you may have encountered during the first half of the year. Struggling to tell the difference between a genuine email from trusted sources, and suspicious messages composed to obtain your sensitive details? MailCleaner will seamlessly separate the real from the fake, filtering false information and spam.
A Tempting Vacation
As enticing as a low-cost holiday or luxury break may seem, if this is communicated by an unfamiliar email account – regardless of the seemingly reliable sender – it may just be too good to be true. Popular British travel agency TUI have recently been featured in the news cycle due to an email phishing scam, with criminals tempting targets with the assurance of cheap vacations overseas. Undesirables have notably attempted to gain legitimacy by setting up email addresses which are similar to that of the company, meaning that only eagle-eyed customers would notice this clever con.
Recognisable Details
Serving as a warning against the dangers of publishing too many details about yourself on social media, scammers may be able to browse your accounts and collect important information, which could lead you to believe that they are verifiable should they pose as that very same company. If your account privacy settings are limited for Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, a criminal can collect all manner of details including your address, names of close family members, birthday, location of residence and much more. Having noted this down, they may seem trustworthy should an email come your way with these information snippets included as proof of legitimacy.
Targeting The Vulnerable
Online criminals will often target those with limited knowledge of internet email security, as well as individuals in vulnerable positions, with false healthcare providers increasingly common. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, The National Health Service reported a prevalent rise in the number of reported hoax emails, including advance fee fraud, attachments containing malware, and much more. Always check an email source and never open questionable attachments. Alternatively, scalable anti spam tools from MailCleaner will automatically filter such harmful communications.
At MailCleaner, we’re happy to offer a number of specific packages, suitable for everyone from small business owners to large corporations and reputable organisations. Our spam filtering service is flexible and safe, sending all unwanted messages and viruses to an online quarantine folder for your safety and convenience. Each server gateway can handle a large volume of traffic, with email security software easily installed in less than fifteen minutes. Any questions on spam tools? Contact us at your earliest convenience.