How to Avoid Being Scammed
… And a Cloudeight Site Pick
Did you know that this year scammers will reap $2 billion in ill-gotten revenue? And all those hundreds of millions of dollars come from people just like you and me.
How many times have you seen newspaper articles or TV news reports about scams and scammers but didn’t pay attention because you thought it could never happen to you? But it can. Victims of scammers can be highly intelligent people who just let their guard down for a few seconds… and a few seconds is all it takes for you to be swindled and scammed.
The Holiday Season is fast approaching and with the pandemic still causing illness and death all around the world – more of us than ever will be shopping online this year.
Before we introduce you to our spam-fighting Site Pick, we’re going to show you some of the top subject lines from scam emails to help you identify scam emails before you open them.
Top Email Scam Subject Lines
With the percentage of recipients who take the scam bait.
Password check required immediately (20 percent of recipients clicked on this scam)
Vacation policy update (12 percent)
Branch/corporate reopening schedule (11 percent)
Covid-19 awareness (10 percent)
Coronavirus stimulus checks (10 percent)
List of rescheduled meetings due to Covid-19 (10 percent)
Confidential information on Covid-19 (8 percent)
Covid-19 now airborne increased community transmission (7 percent)
FedEx tracking (6 percent)
Your meeting attendees are waiting! (6 percent)
Other top subject lines from scam emails
Payroll Deduction Form
Required to read or complete: “COVID-19 Safety Policy”
COVID-19 Remote Work Policy Update
Request
Follow up
Urgent/Important
Are you available?
Are you at your desk?
Payment Status
And now our Cloudeight site pick –
It’s clear from the numbers that scams are on the rise, so teams at Google and the Cybercrime Support Network are saying enough is enough.
With Google’s help, we are spotting the most common patterns used by scammers and offering practical advice to help you stop them in their tracks.
Scams are always growing and evolving. Take a look at the numbers to see just how pervasive these schemes can be.
$1 BILLION ESTIMATED LOSS IN GIFT CARDS IN 2019
$3,600 LOST TO FRAUD EVERY MINUTE IN 2019
$201 MILLION REPORTED LOSS IN ROMANCE SCAMS IN 2019
Scammers are expected to steal over $2 billion in 2020. We can thwart their efforts with the three golden rules.
#1. Slow it down — Scammers often create a sense of urgency so that they can bypass your better instincts. Take your time and ask questions to avoid being rushed into a bad situation.
WHAT A SCAMMER MIGHT SAY:
You need to act fast. If you don’t make a payment now, we’ll be forced to take legal action against you.
#2. Spot check — Do your research to double-check the details you’re getting. If you get an unexpected phone call, hang up. Then look up the bank, agency or organization that’s supposedly calling and get in touch directly.
WHAT A SCAMMER MIGHT SAY:
This is the IRS calling. We haven’t received your tax payments for four years. That’s a federal crime.
#3. Stop! Don’t send — No reputable person or agency will ever demand payment on the spot. Often, scammers tell you to go buy gift cards—which are meant only to be given as a gift, not as payment under threat. So if you think the payment feels fishy, it probably is.
WHAT A SCAMMER MIGHT SAY:
Please send us EnormoMart GIFT CARDS of $100 or $200 face value. I need 20 of each card.
ScamSpotter also helps you recognize Romance Scams and Online Shopping Scams as well. And while you’re there take the ScamSpotter quiz and see how good you are at spotting scams…
There’s a lot more where that came from so visit ScamSpotter now – because the best way to protect yourself is knowledge. The more you know about scams and scammers the better the chances are that you’ll never be a victim.
Keeping you safe online is our mission!