compared to“ irs-service @ IRS. G0V”, where the letter“ O” has been substituted with the number zero“ 0”).
You should always review the sender email address to ensure it is valid. In the example above, you should never expect to receive email notifications from the Internal Revenue Service about tax refunds. Pay close attention to messages that come from unknown senders.
Review hyperlinks
Hyperlinks or links allow users to click and navigate to specific websites. There are two parts to a link—( 1) what is displayed and( 2) where the link actually takes you. Spammers often make links appear legitimate. But the links can take you to malicious websites. To avoid accessing a malicious site, know where the link will take you before clicking. To do this, move your mouse over the link. Your screen will show you where the link will actually take you when you click it.
Use caution with links that contain numbers, misspellings, or odd text. For example, the link“ www. website. com / 1482197 / pl2mia8hw573nzzbv71i0f29y3uxj9. zip” points to a file that contains malware. When in doubt, perform your own search, or contact the company directly, instead of clicking the link.
Look for grammar and spelling errors
Spammers are getting smarter when crafting malicious emails. But many messages are still riddled with grammar and spelling mistakes. Read the subject line and first few sentences of the email to determine if the email uses broken language or text not related to the purpose of the email. Here is an example of misspellings in a real malicious email:“ Confirm your e-mail by filling out your Login Information below or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.” Other examples of messages with broken language include“ Verify your account now to avoid it closed!!!” and“ Warning!!! Account owner that refuses to update his or