Scammers are constantly adapting their strategies to get access to your personal or financial information. As scam tactics become more detailed and frequent, it’s important to know how to spot these attacks. Here are some questions to help determine if an interaction is legitimate. You may also click below to review our checklist on Identity Theft and Fraud Issues.
Am I at Risk of Having my Identity Stolen or Being a Victim of Fraud?
1. Is the Email from a Public Domain?
Large companies, organizations or institutions don't send emails from a public domain (ex., @gmail.com), they have their own domain names that match or closely match the name of their company. While the email might appear legitimate, if it was sent from a public domain, it’s likely a scam.
2. Is the Company Domain Name Spelled Correctly?
Unfortunately, some scammers know that people do not trust emails that come from public domains. To get around this, they send emails from a domain that is like one you trust but misspelled. If you have reason to believe an email you receive is a phishing email, check the domain name for a misspelling.
3. Is the Content Poorly Written?
Whether it’s in an email, an online offer or a text message, illegitimate content from scammers trying to get your information may be poorly written. Correspondence coming from a legitimate company will have few to no spelling or grammatical errors.
4. Does the Message have a Dramatic Sense of Urgency?
Many suspicious online offers and messages promote a sense of urgency in their content. Getting you to act quickly means you won’t have time to think about the legitimacy of an offer or the repercussions of clicking on a link or emailing someone back.
5. Is the Offer Too Good to be True?
Before clicking on any links or acting on what someone says, think about whether their offer is too good to be true. If you find that an online offer is too good to be true, it often isn’t true at all.
As scammers continue to learn and evolve their tactics, so can you. Asking these questions can help you avoid becoming a victim.
Have questions or concerns? Please don't hesitate to reach out to us by emailing info@pineharboradvisors.com or calling 207-761-4733