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