Of course, spam emails are everywhere. You know, you get them on a daily basis in your spam box if your email account marks them as spam, but sometimes they go right into your inbox. So what is going to keep you safe from these annoying spam emails? How do you know the difference? What are the best practices for managing accounts and if these are legitimate emails or not?
When it comes to managing your account, beware of spam emails that try and hack or system or make you pay to other sources by giving in to their scare tactics. Here is one example of an email that we have received and we try and give this warning out as much as possible. we get calls all the time from clients asking about these types of emails and why are they asking for money. This isn’t only email accounts, but we have seen these types go through snail mail (to your actual mailbox) asking to pay up or else! Both spam! trash them!
How to manage your account without getting spammed?
First of all this email was marked as spam. Sometimes an email system doesn’t always catch them and mark them as spam. So just because it went to your regular email, doesn’t mean it isn’t spammed.
Who is the email from?
As you notice in the email screenshot, They didn’t buy their domain from that service.
When if your domain due?
Usually, they try these scare tactics months before a domain is actually due. if you do not know when your domain is up for renewal, always go to the original source you registered your domain with and check your account there. This should be the ONLY source to go to renew your domain.
Never click on a link in any of these emails.
This is a way for them to get into your system and even hold your account as ransom. We have stepped in on rescues of people clicking on these links and suddenly they have a screen browser take over if people who want to access your system and you will pay them to remove the spam they just installed in your system.
Don’t confuse your website system and your local operating system as the same thing. There are various ways we have talked about securing your WordPress site will be effective. Getting your local computer system hacked is a different ballgame and can be costly to remove or it could break your whole system and you may lose all your content. However, if you are working on a website from your local computer, yes now they can access just about anything now including your website.
If in doubt of a suspicious email, it is best to leave it alone and ask someone professional who would know.
Best practices for keeping your local computer safe?
- Login DIRECTLY to manage an account for ANY service you use!
This could be a website, PayPal, Banking, Purchasing sites, ANY website where you manage an account, always login direct and don’t click links in an email that you are unsure of.
- Mark spam as SPAM!
The best way to help email services combat spam is to report emails that are spam that have not been marked spam yet. They receive these and monitor these email reports, so use the service!
- Use the scroll over method for links in emails!
Just to be on the safe side and you think an email is legit (and maybe it is), always scroll over a link in an email and verify that link in the bottom of the browser. Some use tinyURLs so you won’t be able to see the exact string, in this case……go to the first suggestion and login DIRECTLY to an account.
These three suggestions will help you continue to use a safe practice for all of your information.
One last thing is we suggest you use security on any device you are using to help warn you and keep your system secure. Look for further news about how to keep your local system secure. Subscribe to our site by clicking the bell on a page so you can receive these types of tips, news, and reminders.
Be safe